The late Bill Daniels grew up poor and never went to college. He became a wealthy businessman despite enormous odds and, in his words, due to “a great deal of luck.” Just prior to his death a few years ago, he expressed his desire to help other individuals who had faced similar financial and other obstacles pursue the college education he missed. So, the first and largest funding area he wanted his billion-dollar foundation to focus on was college scholarships for students who might not otherwise attend.
“The current financial crisis facing higher education in Colorado is likely to impact low income families the most, making it even more difficult to pay for a college education,” offered Hank Brown, President and CEO of the Daniels Fund. Today, the Daniels Fund is announcing a unique partnership with ten of Colorado’s colleges and universities to help prevent this from happening, he added.
Each selected institution will receive a $200,000 Daniels Opportunity Award to distribute directly to eligible students in the form of scholarships. Approximately 250 students are expected to benefit from this special program.
Since its inception in March of 2000, the Daniels College Prep and Scholarship Program has focused on increasing college access and opportunity by preparing over a thousand promising low-income, high-school aged young people for college. As of this fall, nearly 450 students from Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming (the Fund’s efforts will expand to Utah this year) will be attending colleges and universities across the country as Daniels Scholars. This number is expected to double when the program has reached its full capacity.
“The special $2 million pilot initiative immediately expands the scope of the foundation’s efforts by targeting low-income GED and other non-traditional populations for the first time,” explained Dr. Carrie Besnette, Daniels Fund Vice President and Scholarship Program Director. “In doing so, we are honoring Bill Daniels’ expressed wish to help individuals often overlooked by most scholarship programs, but who have every potential to complete a college education,” she added.
Including this $2 million special grant, the Daniels Fund will expend approximately $7 million this year in college preparation efforts and scholarships benefiting promising students with financial need.
“We are very excited about this opportunity, especially in light of the current financial climate in our state,” said Pam Shockley, Chancellor of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. “We look forward to using our Daniels Opportunity Award as a way of continuing our deep commitment to the students the Daniels Fund has identified and look forward to this unique partnership,” she added.
The following institutions will each receive a one-time 2003 Daniels Opportunity Award
2003 Daniels Opportunity Awards for GED recipients ($200,000 each):
· Adams State College (Alamosa)
· Community College of Denver
· Northeastern Junior College (Sterling)
· Pueblo Community College
· Trinidad State Junior College
2003 Daniels Opportunity Awards for continuing and transfer students ($200,000 each):
· University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
· Fort Lewis College (Durango)
· Metro State College of Denver
· University of Northern Colorado (Greeley)
· Western State College (Gunnison)
About the Daniels Fund (please see www.danielsfund.org for more information)
Founded in the year 2000 through the generous legacy of cable entrepreneur Bill Daniels, the Daniels Fund works to provide a better life and greater opportunities to communities and individuals in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The Fund’s primary efforts include the Daniels College Prep and Scholarship Program and the Daniels Fund Grants Program.
Members of the media are also invited to attend the Daniels Opportunity Awards reception at the Young Americans Bank (3550 East First Ave., Cherry Creek) on May 5, 2003 from 4-6 p.m.