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Organizations serving people in need are the major recipients of $11 million in grants announced this week by the Daniels Fund, a foundation that is the legacy of Bill Daniels, a decorated fighter pilot in World War II who went on to became a pioneer in cable television known for his kindness and generosity to those in need. 

“Nonprofit organizations are stung twice by our unsettled economy—demand for their services surges at the same time resources and donations dry up,” explained Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “That awareness drives our continued support of the organizations that do so much for the most vulnerable in our communities.”

 Among Daniels most notable philanthropic projects were his pioneering efforts in education. He founded the Young Americans Bank in 1987 to give young people the opportunity to learn the importance of financial education. He also collaborated with the University of Denver to incorporate ethics, values and social responsibility in the business school curriculum. The school was named the Daniels College of Business in 1994.

An avid sports fan, Daniels was one of the first cable leaders to focus on sports programming. He sponsored a number of professional boxers, including Ron Lyle who fought Muhammad Ali for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1975, served as the president of the American Basketball Association, was a founder of the United States Football League, and was an owner of several professional sports teams, including the ABA Utah Stars and a stake in the Los Angeles Lakers.

Major recipients this quarter in Colorado include: Bayaud Enterprises; Boy Scouts of America, Denver Area Council; Cerebral Palsy of Colorado; Colorado Children’s Campaign; Colorado Drug Endangered Children; Compa Food Ministries; Denver School of Science and Technology; Emergency Family Assistance Association; Goodwill Industries; Junior Achievement – Rocky Mountain; Seeds of Hope; West Denver Prep Charter School; and many others.

Grant recipients this quarter in New Mexico include: A New Day Youth and Family Services, Albuquerque; Albuquerque Rescue Mission; Boys & Girls Club of Farmington; Cuidando Los Niños, Albuquerque; Direct Action for Youth Foundation, Placitas; National Indian Youth Leadership Project, Gallup; New Choices, Las Vegas; New Mexico Community Foundation – Native American Community Academy Youth Conservation Corps, Albuquerque; New Mexico Conference of Churches – Parole Empowerment Partners Program, Bernalillo; New Mexico State University Foundation — Southwest Institute for Early Childhood Studies Teacher Professional Development Initiative, Las Cruces; Palmer Drug Abuse Program of Lea County; Sacramento Mountain Village, Ruidoso; Santa Fe Preparatory School – Breakthrough Santa Fe; and Sawmill Advisory Council — Acequia After-School Tutoring Program, Albuquerque.

Grant recipients this quarter in Utah include the Ability Foundation, Murray; Boys & Girls Clubs of Brigham City; House of Hope, Salt Lake City; Housing Opportunities, Salt Lake City; Transitions, Blanding; and Youth Impact, Ogden.

Grant recipients this quarter in Wyoming include: 12-24 Club in Casper; Child Development Services of Fremont County; Cottonwood Elementary Go For It School Immersion Program in Casper; Laramie Athletics Baseball Complex in Laramie; Senior Citizens Council in Sheridan; Goshen County Ministry Fund and Emergency Assistance Program; Edgerton Community Multi-Use Youth Sport and Recreation Facility Project; and the Wyoming Volunteers of America Camp POSTCARD program.

When Daniels died in the year 2000, his estate transferred to the Daniels Fund that he directed to provide grants and scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Since that time, more than $330 million in grants and more than $66 million in scholarships have been awarded through the foundation.

The program areas eligible for grants through the Daniels Fund include: Aging, Alcoholism & Substance Abuse, Amateur Sports, Disabilities, Education, Homeless & Disadvantaged and Youth Development.