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DANIELS FUND

Honoring Bill Daniels' direction to make life better for the people and communities of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
The Daniels Fund awarded the Child Development Center of Natrona County the Medal of Excellence and $250,000 prize to honor excellence in nonprofit work and support the organization’s early childhood education programs for children with special needs, at the second annual Salute to Excellence event at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

The event recognized the work of three top-performing grantees: the Child Development Center, CrossPurpose, and TACT. Each advanced pioneering solutions and demonstrated community impact aligned with the Daniels Fund’s mission and founder Bill Daniels’ legacy.

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The inaugural Daniels Fund Salute to Excellence ws a celebration of our incredible grantees.

We are thrilled to announce three distinguished finalists for the Daniels Fund Medal of Excellence! These outstanding organizations set a high standard for excellence in the spirit of Bill Daniels.

Two finalists will receive $100,000 to support their mission and one organization will receive the Medal of Excellence along with $250,000.

Learn more about the finalists below.
Date:
January 29, 2025
Location:
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205
Time:
Award Reception and Program: 6:00 – 7:30 pm

2025 Medal of Excellence Winner —
Child Development Center of Natrona County

Congratulations to Child Development Center, winner of the Medal of Excellence!

Step Denver logo
The Child Development Center of Natrona County is transforming the lives of children with developmental disabilities and helping them reach their full potential by providing early intervention and compassionate care.

Website:
cdccasper.org

Medal of Excellence Finalists

CrossPurpose logo
CrossPurpose helps individuals overcome the cycle of poverty and transform lives through a combination of community support and comprehensive job training.

Website:
crosspurpose.org

TACT logo
Teaching the Autism Community Trades (TACT) empowers young people with autism by providing hands-on training in the skilled trades, opening doors to meaningful careers and creating brighter futures.

Website:
buildwithtact.org

The three finalists were selected to advance from a group of six semi-finalists which included Denver School of Science & Technology, New Legacy Charter School, and Special Olympics of Colorado.

Photos and Video

Step Denver
Pictured: Daniels Fund President & CEO Hanna Skandera (third from left) presents award check to Child Development Center Executive Director Alisha Rone (fifth from left) and CDC team.

Child Development Center was awarded $250,000 and the Daniels Fund Medal of Excellence at the second annual Salute to Excellence.
CrossPurpose
Pictured: Daniels Fund President & CEO Hanna Skandera (fifth from left) presents award check to CrossPurpose CEO Jason Janz (fourth from left), Chief Program Officer Jen Janz (sixth from left), board member and alumna Tiffany Johnson (seventh from left), and team.

CrossPurpose was awarded $100,000 as a finalist for the Medal of Excellence.
TACT
Pictured: Daniels Fund President & CEO Hanna Skandera (front row, third from left) presents award check to TACT Vice President of Operations and Programs Becky Mershon (front row, fourth from left) , Founder and board member Danny Combs (back row, second from left) and team.

TACT was awarded $100,000 as a finalist for the Medal of Excellence.

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 and scholarship programs.

Bill Daniels established the Daniels Fund Grants Program to give back to people in the states he loved with specific funding priorities that held a deep personal significance for him. In 2024, the Daniels Fund awarded $52 million in grants to more than 225 highly effective nonprofit partners that are transforming their communities across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Learn more about Bill Daniels

Learn more about the Daniels Fund Grants Program

Contact Information

For media inquiries, please contact:
Jackie Brown-Griggs, 303.300.2255, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Michael Teague, 303.223.6585, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For event inquiries, please contact:
Jody Neumann, 303.393.7220, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.