Colorado State University Hosts Event Highlighting Legacy of Business Leader and Philanthropist Bill Daniels
Note to Reporters: Contact information for leaders of local nonprofits that have received grants from the Daniels Fund is available from Peter Droege by calling (303)519-9533.
The College of Business at Colorado State University will host an event today highlighting the legacy of Bill Daniels, a business leader and philanthropist, who died in March 2000.
Daniels, a decorated naval aviator in World War II and cable television pioneer, helped establish Colorado as a center of the cable television industry. Upon his death, his estate transferred to the Daniels Fund, which provides grants and scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
“Bill Daniels’ legacy is one of using his success to shape the lives of those less fortunate,” said Ajay Menon, dean of CSU’s College of Business. “Through the Daniels Fund, he has ensured that dreams are fulfilled and those less fortunate have the same opportunities as all others. The Ethics Initiative funded by the Daniels Fund will help the College of Business at Colorado State University to develop programs and curriculum that highlight the importance of ethics and integrity in business and professional life.”
The 10th anniversary of the Daniels Fund will be celebrated at the eight partnering universities in the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, an innovative program designed to instill a high standard of business ethics in graduates. The College of Business at CSU will be linked to the other celebration sites through a video simulcast.
“Bill Daniels began life in humble circumstances but achieved greatness by staying true to the values he learned as a young man: honesty, integrity and the importance of hard work and always playing fair,” said Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “His legacy has touched countless lives in its first 10 years and will continue to do so as long as there are people in need.”
The celebration will take place in the Bohemian Auditorium, Room 116 in Rockwell Hall-West. Special guests will include nonprofit and community leaders who will be joined by recipients of the Daniels Scholarship. James Griesemer, a noted educator and Daniels Fund board member, will emcee the event.
A total of 1,497 Colorado students have been named Daniels Scholars since the program was launched. This supplemental scholarship provides students in financial need with the opportunity to attend any college or university in the United States once they are accepted.
“These are promising and motivated students determined to succeed in life but lacking the financial resources to continue their education,” Childears said. “They are outstanding young people, and the Daniels Fund is proud to partner with them as they fulfill their dreams of attending college.”
In addition, the Daniels Fund has awarded $7.3 million in funding for Daniels Opportunity Scholarships for Colorado students. The program provides an opportunity to attend college to non-traditional students such as adults returning to college, returning military personnel, GED recipients, foster care youth and people exiting juvenile justice facilities.
Since its inception, the Daniels Fund has approved grants totaling $169 million in Colorado. In 2010, a projected $17 million in grants will be awarded in the state. This is in addition to the funding for the Daniels Scholarship and the Daniels Opportunity Scholarship programs.
Among the many nonprofits receiving grants are the Bill Daniels Center for Children’s Hearing at The Children’s Hospital; Catholic Charities and Community Services; the Charter Schools Development Corp.; Colorado UpLift; the Denver Police Activities League; the Family Resource Center; Teach for America – Colorado; and many others.
The public is invited to view the live webcast of the 10th Anniversary Celebration via www.danielsfund.org on the Daniels Fund website.
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