In life and in business, relationships were central to everything Bill Daniels did. Bill understood that we are all connected and believed we each should play a role making our community a better place. He once encouraged people to get involved by saying, “If you pick up the paper and read that the city's got a problem and needs something, don't wait to be asked. Let them know that you are part of the community and you're there to help them." And he did exactly that — when he heard about people in need, he was often first in line to help. After reading of someone falling on hard times, he was frequently inspired to anonymously leave envelopes of cash donations in mailboxes, in what became known among his associates as “drive-by giving.”
“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it was clear that our communities would be facing challenges unlike any we’ve ever seen,” said Hank Brown, Interim President & CEO of the Daniels Fund. “We consider it an honor to be able to continue Bill’s legacy of giving and do our part in helping people in our four-state region of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming meet these challenges.”
Reflecting Bill Daniels’ personal style, the Daniels Fund Grants Program has spent years cultivating strong relationships with grantees based on collaborative partnerships. This foundation of existing relationships played a key role in allowing us to identify needs and act quickly. “Our Grants Program Officers spent the initial weeks of the pandemic proactively reaching out to each of our key grantee partners to understand how the situation was affecting them and the people they serve, and what role the Daniels Fund could play as a resource,” said Kristin Todd, Executive Vice President, Grants Program & Operations of the Daniels Fund. “For some, new funding was needed, for others, flexibility in existing grant terms to allow them to redirect funds as budget priorities shifted.”