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YMCA receives $500,000 Daniels Fund grant for pool project
Daniels Fund Celebrates $1 Billion in Giving Since its Founding
News
December 2, 2021
Daniels Fund Celebrates $1 Billion in Giving
Since its Founding
The Daniels Fund has reached $1 billion in giving since its founding just over 20 years ago. During that time, the foundation has awarded more than 13,000 grants and nearly 4,600 college scholarships. The billion-dollar mark was officially crossed last night when the Daniels Fund awarded a $200,000 grant to Arrupe Jesuit High School at a celebration at the Cable Center.
“Bill Daniels gave freely in his life. It’s an honor to carry on his legacy of generosity today as we celebrate $1 billion invested in our communities,” said Daniels Fund President and CEO Hanna Skandera. “There’s no doubt that lives have been changed for the better thanks to the gift he provided when he created this foundation. It’s incredible to think about the impact $1 billion has had in this region and the lives that have been touched.”
Daniels Fund Board Chair John Suthers (right) and Daniels Fund President & CEO Hanna Skandera (center) present a grant check to Arrupe Jesuit High School President Michael O’Hagan (left).
Cable pioneer and Denver resident Bill Daniels established the Daniels Fund to operate in perpetuity and left $1 billion to fund the foundation upon his death in 2000. Today, the fund annually invests roughly $60 million in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming through grantmaking and scholarships. In addition to its nationally-recognized Daniels Scholarship Program, the foundation funds exceptional organizations that focus on aging, amateur sports, disabilities, drug and alcohol addiction, early childhood education, ethics, homelessness, K-12 education reform, and youth development.
“You see Bill Daniels’ values of integrity, honesty, and respect for people in the students we serve at Arrupe,” said Arrupe Jesuit High School President Michael O’Hagan. “The Daniels Fund believed in us when we were just getting started and has helped shape our organization and given us the opportunity to pass those values on to hundreds of students.” Read more stories of impact at DanielsFund.org/Stories.
About the Daniels Fund
The Daniels Fund, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative. Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.
Media Contact: Bruce Wilmsen
Direct: 720.941.4429
[email protected]
Laura Giocomo Rizzo Named Senior Vice President of Communications for Daniels Fund
News
November 4, 2021
Laura Giocomo Rizzo Named Senior Vice President
of Communications for Daniels Fund
Rizzo fills vacancy left by Bo Peretto, recently named
SVP of Legacy and Donor Intent
The Daniels Fund is pleased to announce that Laura Giocomo Rizzo has been named Senior Vice President of Communications for the organization. Rizzo fills a vacancy created when longtime Daniels Fund employee Bo Peretto was named Senior Vice President of Legacy and Donor Intent, a new position created to further preserve the life and legacy of Bill Daniels.
“We are thrilled to welcome Laura to the Daniels Fund and continue our work with Bo,” said Hanna Skandera, President & CEO of the Daniels Fund. “Laura is a proven leader and asset to organizations across Colorado. Her skills and vision, paired with Bo’s advancement of Bill’s legacy and tenure with the Daniels Fund, will help further enhance the work of the foundation and increase awareness of our mission and impact.”
With over 15 years at the Daniels Fund, Peretto is uniquely positioned to steward the direction and style of Bill Daniels in his new position. “Bill Daniels changed the trajectory of my life as a young boy growing up in Colorado,” said Peretto. “I consider it a real honor to serve in this new role and bring him to life for generations to come.”
A Colorado native and former executive at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Rizzo has extensive communications experience coupled with a deep love for and understanding of the community. Prior to joining the Daniels Fund, Rizzo served as the Senior Vice President of External Affairs for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce where she also held various communications and marketing positions during her nearly 8-year tenure. Previously, she worked in communications for Centura Health, communications consulting firm SE2, elected officials, and the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
“I’m honored to join this incredible organization, advance Bill Daniels’ legacy, and impact lives across the region,” said Rizzo. “I’ve long admired the work of the Daniels Fund and am humbled to play a part in enhancing its impact, expanding partnerships, and increasing public awareness of its amazing work.”
About the Daniels Fund
The Daniels Fund, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative. Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.
Media Contact: Bruce Wilmsen
Direct: 720.941.4429
[email protected]
High school seniors in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming encouraged to apply for Daniels Scholarship
News
October 1, 2021
High school seniors in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming encouraged to apply for Daniels Scholarship
DENVER — Applications for the nationally-recognized Daniels Scholarship Program open today for high school seniors in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Interested students should visit DanielsFund.org to apply for the Daniels Scholarship Program before November 15, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. MST.
The Daniels Scholarship Program provides the opportunity for highly motivated students to earn a bachelor’s degree that helps them build a successful career and rewarding life. Daniels Scholars demonstrate exceptional character, leadership, and a commitment to serving their communities. Bill Daniels would also want his scholars to be proud Americans who value our free enterprise system and are prepared to give the world their very best shot.
Now in its 21st year, the program has provided more than $220 million in undergraduate scholarships to approximately 4,600 students. The goal of the program is to help each Daniels Scholar thrive through college and earn a degree — a step that will ultimately lead to becoming an independent, contributing citizen with a rewarding career who is actively engaged in their community.
The Daniels Scholarship Program provides a four-year college scholarship that is unique to each student and varies depending on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and their choice of school. The scholarship pays up to $25,000 per year toward the student’s unmet need, after applying their EFC, other scholarships, and financial aid.
Daniels Scholars may attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States.
Eligibility requirements:
- Be a current high school senior graduating during the 2021-2022 academic year from a high school in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.
- Be a current resident of one of these four states and a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
- Earn a minimum 3.0 high school GPA (on an unweighted 4.0 scale).
- Earn a minimum SAT Math score of 490 and a minimum Evidence-Based Reading & Writing score of 490, or a minimum ACT score of 18 in each category (writing score not required). Super scoring is not accepted.
- The applicant’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must have an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $85,000 or less on the 2020 tax return on which the applicant appears. For claimed dependents beyond the applicant, there is an allowance for an additional $5,000 for each dependent or $15,000 for each additional dependent in college full-time.
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About the Daniels Fund
The Daniels Fund, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative. Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.
Media Contact: Bruce Wilmsen
Direct: 720.941.4429
[email protected]
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Governor Susana Martinez elected to the Daniels Fund Board of Directors
News
August 4, 2021
Governor Susana Martinez elected to the
Daniels Fund Board of Directors
The Daniels Fund announced Governor Susana Martinez has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Daniels Fund.
Now valued at approximately $1.7 billion, the Daniels Fund is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative. The Daniels Fund continues the legacy of generosity established by its founder, Bill Daniels, a cable television pioneer known for his compassion for those in need and his unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. Since its inception, it has funded grants and scholarships totaling nearly $1 billion.
“I look forward to the tremendous value and experience Governor Martinez will bring to our board,” said John Suthers, Chair of the Daniels Fund Board of Directors. “Her deep knowledge and connection to the state of New Mexico is unparalleled.”
Martinez was elected governor of New Mexico in 2010 and re-elected by a wide margin to serve a second term in 2014. She became New Mexico’s first female governor and the first Hispanic female governor in the history of the United States. As governor, she prioritized keeping New Mexico’s communities safe, ensuring all students receive a high-quality education, and diversifying and growing the state’s economy.
“Bill Daniels continues to impact the lives of so many people through his foundation,” said Governor Martinez. “I am truly honored to serve on the board and be a part of furthering his legacy.”
Prior to being elected governor, Martinez was a prosecutor for 25 years along New Mexico’s southern border and served as Doña Ana County’s elected district attorney for over half that time.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma School of Law, where she was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. Governor Martinez has been named to Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Governor Martinez currently serves as a Board Member for the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd), and also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the HuntKean Leadership Fellows program of the Hunt Institute and the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation.
About the Daniels Fund
The Daniels Fund, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative. Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.
Media Contact: Bruce Wilmsen
Direct: 720.941.4429
[email protected]
Move United Junior Nationals presented by the Hartford to host hundreds of adaptive youth athletes in Metro Denver, July 17-23
Luke Ragland Named Senior Vice President of Daniels Fund Grants Program
News
June 30, 2021
Luke Ragland Named Senior Vice President
of Daniels Fund Grants Program
The Daniels Fund is pleased to announce that Luke Ragland has been named Senior Vice President of the organization’s Grants Program.
Ragland has a proven track record of impact as a leader in Colorado’s education system and, as a fourth-generation Coloradan from the southwestern corner of the state, he brings a strong understanding of the needs of rural communities.
“Luke is well-positioned to lead our Grants Program into the future,” Hanna Skandera, President & CEO of the Daniels Fund. “His vision, grit, and entrepreneurial heart will drive an outcomes-focused approach for greater impact within the communities we serve.”
Prior to joining the Daniels Fund, Ragland served as the President of Ready Colorado, an education policy organization based in Denver. Previously, he served as Vice President of Policy at Colorado Succeeds, practiced commercial litigation at a law firm in Denver, and worked in the White House. Ragland serves on the board of the Colorado Charter School Institute, a statewide charter school authorizer.
“It’s an honor to join the Daniels Fund, an organization that positively impacts the lives of so many people,” said Luke Ragland. “I look forward to advancing Bill Daniels’ legacy and propelling the Grants Program forward.”
The Daniels Fund Grants Program provides support to highly effective nonprofit organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in the areas of Aging, Amateur Sports, Disabilities, Drug & Alcohol Addiction, Early Childhood Education, Homeless & Disadvantaged, K-12 Education, and Youth Development.
About the Daniels Fund
The Daniels Fund, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative. Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.
Media Contact: Bruce Wilmsen
Direct: 720.941.4429
[email protected]
Local teen recognized for her efforts to serve her community
