Philanthropy fuels our progress to transform healthcare

Benefactor Recognition Dinner honors visionaries driving positive change at CU Anschutz 

What is the power of philanthropy?  For the 300 people in attendance at the 2024 Benefactor Recognition Dinner on October 23, it served as a shared source of generosity and positive change all in support of something bigger than themselves. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Chancellor Donald Elliman noted that this event is one of his personal favorites, as it centers around the people whom he calls the ‘heart of our institution’: the benefactors.   

“In my time as Chancellor, I have witnessed the spark of what continues to set our academic medical campus apart – extraordinary people and ambitious ideas,” Elliman said in his opening remarks. “We’re proud to count ourselves among the leading academic medical campuses. All we’ve achieved, and the opportunities still ahead, are bolstered by the philanthropic spirit of people like you.” 

Indeed, the spirit of giving appears to be the driving force at CU Anschutz and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. In fact, last year the campus reached a remarkable milestone – $2.2 billion in private philanthropic support raised for the University of Colorado since 2015. The total number, while impressive, was not the focal point of the event; it was the collective generosity of everyone in the room whose impact was celebrated. As noted in this special video, the ripple effect of philanthropy at CU Anschutz is infinite.



Innovation Through Collaboration  

University of Colorado President Todd Saliman kicked off the event with an energetic welcome, noting that private support empowers CU faculty, students, researchers and healthcare professionals to dream bigger and to make the most of their potential. Co-hosts for the evening were Chancellor Elliman and Tom Gronow, EdD, MHA, President and CEO of UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.  

The program demonstrated the power of collaboration as evidenced through the unique characteristics of an academic medical campus and its leading hospital affiliates right in our own backyard. From launching innovation initiatives like the Gates Institute and the Anschutz Acceleration Awards, to welcoming new faculty leadership at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado School of Public Health and the Graduate School, CU Anschutz has continued to grow and evolve.  

In his opening remarks, Gronow mentioned the rich network of multidisciplinary talent and resources at UCH. “Together with our two top-ranked hospitals, we are bringing the latest and best that modern medicine has to offer to those we serve, and we’re fueling a virtuous cycle of research – from bench to bedside and back again,” he said.  

The mission of delivering highly tailored, patient-centered care was evident through a touching video of a UCH patient who was helped by the limb restoration team headed by Jason Stoneback, MD.  

 
Honoring the Impact Makers 

After dinner, Chancellor Elliman returned to the stage to share one of the many ways that private support has enabled the campus to bring a CU Anschutz education into reach for future generations. Thanks to the incredible generosity of CU Nursing alumna Karen Zink, CNP, MS ‘87, there is now a pathway for rural and indigenous students in Fort Lewis to become trusted nurses in their communities through the CU Nursing Fort Lewis College Collaborative.  



Zink was in attendance along with Bailey Martinez, a Fort Lewis College nursing student who directly benefited from this philanthropic investment. They participated in a fireside chat moderated by Kristi Rodriguez, Director of Admissions and Student Affairs for the CU College of Nursing. During the talk, Zink shared her reasons for being a nursing advocate and the importance of integrating diverse perspectives into healthcare.  

“This partnership has the creative potential to change the landscape and show how healthcare can and should look,” she said. “This program will help prepare the nurses of the future.” Read more about Zink’s inspiration for giving and our campus’s efforts to bring accessible healthcare to rural, indigenous populations.  

At the conclusion of the fireside chat, another powerful philanthropic example was shared about the community of supporters: honorees Joyce and Dick Brown. The Brown’s support of CU over the years has opened doors and changed lives, from gifts to the Ludeman Family Center of Women’s Health Research, to establishing the Joyce M. Brown Chair for Developmental Therapeutics in Women’s Cancers and the Brown/Moore Endowed Chair in Excellence in the Patient Experience. A brief video was shared that highlights their giving, and the indelible mark made on CU and the broader Colorado community.  

While Joyce and Dick were not in attendance, Dick’s daughter, Kate, accepted the honor on her father’s behalf.  

“I’m so proud of my dad and what he has done with his life,” Brown said. “Finding joy in life is so important, and his joy is connecting with people and organizations who can make a difference. That’s why our family is proud to support the Anschutz Medical Campus.”  

Through inspiring stories and heartfelt acknowledgments, the event celebrated the transformative power of generosity, highlighting how collective efforts can create lasting change in communities and empower future generations of healthcare professionals. 

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