Donor Impact
The Boettcher Foundation
The Boettcher family has been committed to building Colorado for more than a century, and the incorporation of the Boettcher Foundation in 1937 started a legacy of giving that has made a lasting impression on higher education in the state. Hundreds of students have benefited from the Boettcher Scholars program, which encourages the state's best and brightest to go to college in Colorado and build their careers here.
The Institute of Learning and Teaching at Colorado State University opened in 2006 with the goal of promoting student learning and engagement, academic integrity, the professional development of instructors, curricular innovation, and scholarly inquiry into learning and teaching. Thanks to the generosity of the Boettcher Foundation, the Russell George Great Hall is part of TILT's permanent home in the old music building on the historic Oval. The Foundation, which has supported numerous University causes over the years, chose to name the space for George, a former Boettcher Scholar at Colorado State who served the state in various capacities before becoming the executive director of Colorado's Department of Transportation.
Thomas and Margaret Bradbury
Thomas and Margaret Bradbury fell in love while attending Colorado State University – they were married on campus in 1958 – and that love affair continues today. They have earned numerous awards over the years for their dedication to the cattle, quarter horse, and ranching industries, and they are committed stewards of the land that has supported them for more than five decades. Thomas, president of the Bradbury Land & Cattle Co. in Byers, Colo., received the 2007 Livestock Leader of the Year Award at the National Western Stock Show, celebrating his outstanding service to ranching and the community.
"All of the areas in which I have been involved helped mold me. A major factor in any success I have had in my career is to have had the privilege to do something I loved doing and continue to be able to do," said Thomas. "I truly look forward to trying to breed the best cattle that walk, raising a fast-running quarter horse, and making our ranches a lot better than the way we found them."
The Bradburys not only fell in love while at Colorado State, they began a lifelong love affair with their alma mater. Three generations of Bradburys have attended the University, and Ram pride is a family value. They have served on numerous Colorado State committees and remain ardent supporters of the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Athletics. They are generous donors and members of the Campaign Leadership Council, helping to steer the University's first comprehensive campaign.
"We're on our third generation of Bradbury Rams, and we are avid CSU athletics fans," Margaret said. "It's the best school in the state! There's something for everybody."
Thomas and Margaret Bradbury live in Aurora, Colo.
Heidi Ganahl
Heidi Ganahl started Camp Bow Wow in 2002 with a single Denver location. The company now includes more than 200 franchises in 40 states and Canada, and is one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. Heidi is also a published author and motivational speaker who lives in Louisville, Colo., with her family.
Heidi's love for dogs inspired her to establish the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, which supports animal adoption, humane care, and health. The foundation has donated thousands of dollars to support a scholarship at Colorado State University's Animal Cancer Center, embracing the center's mission to find a cure for cancer in both animals and humans.
"My experience to date with those at CSU's vet school and Animal Cancer Center has won my heart and convinced me that the school has great passion, vision, and wonderful leaders moving it toward greatness."
Heidi lives near Boulder, Colo., with her husband and two daughters.
Rick and Heather Knight
Throughout his 25 years in Colorado State University's Warner College of Natural Resources, Rick Knight's broad range of interests has led him to teach courses in wildlife, watershed stewardship, and human dimensions of natural resources. He has been voted "Professor of the Year" three times, and was given the Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award in 2007.
As much as he enjoys teaching, however, Rick's true love is working with students.
"I love the students here at CSU," he said. "When you teach them in WCNR, it's not hard to become fond of them. They know they are not going into a lucrative field, but they put their hearts ahead of their heads. They understand that society doesn't need another corporation to move forward, but we do need a healthy Earth. Only healthy land can support successful economies, and these students get that."
Rick and his wife, Heather, not only teach those principles, they live them. Heather is a project manager for The Nature Conservancy, and they are dedicated to preserving the working wild lands near their home in the Livermore valley, north of Fort Collins.
Rick and Heather have designated a $600,000 planned gift to support scholarships for students attending Pingree Park, CSU's one-of-a-kind outdoor classroom located in the mountains west of Fort Collins. They have also established funding for an annual award to be given to a WCNR staff member.
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Helen Van Dyke King
Some of Colorado State University's greatest supporters never attended the school. Once being exposed to the life-changing work being done on campus, however, they become connected and now do what they can do to spread the word about the University.
Helen Van Dyke King was not familiar with the outstanding work being done at Colorado State's James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital until her dog, Custer, was diagnosed with a heart defect. She sought the help of Dr. Chris Orton, Colorado State's highly regarded canine-heart surgeon, and was pleased when Orton's skilled hands gave Custer three more years of life.
Since that time, Helen has become a vocal and financial supporter of the work being done at Colorado State's Animal Heart Center. Her support means that current and future students and researchers will have the opportunity to find cures for heart ailments in dogs and humans.
Helen Van Dyke King and her husband, Brian, live in Manhattan, Mont.
Linda Brisnehan
Linda Brisnehan started working for Lockheed Martin in 1986 as a communications software engineer. She later served as vice president of Information Technology and chief information officer before being promoted to her current post as vice president of Military Support Systems.
Over the years, Brisnehan's passion for Colorado State University grew, and she was determined to find a way to give back. Taking advantage of Lockheed Martin's matching gifts program, Brisnehan has worked tirelessly as a Colorado State ambassador within the company, encouraging more than 200 employees to support Lockheed Martin's Colorado State University Alumni Scholarship fund. Thanks to her work, generations of promising students will have the opportunity to live and learn at Colorado State before embarking on a career at Lockheed Martin.
Linda lives in Lakewood, Colo., with her husband, Pat, B.S., Business, 1973.
Pat Brady
Pat Brady is a great example of how hard work and a great education combine to pay great dividends. After graduating from Colorado State University in 1989 with a degree in finance/real estate, he took a job as an assistant cashier at FirstBank of Fort Collins. Three years later, he penned a letter to the bank's board of directors, encouraging them to expand in Northern Colorado. Pat later became president of FirstBank of Northern Colorado, which includes 10 branches.
Pat encourages his fellow Colorado State alumni at FirstBank to give back.
"Our ability and desire to give as a group of alumni is rooted in the strong academic skills, interpersonal tools, and blue-collar work ethic that we received while attending Colorado State," Pat said. "We want future students to receive the same educational opportunity afforded to us. That is why scholarships and professor support are so important to FirstBank. With our help, CSU will continue to educate students of great ability and character that will be the driving force for the future of the Colorado economy."
Pat also embodies Colorado State's commitment to serve, volunteering for the Fort Collins Housing Authority, Funding Partners for Housing Solutions, the Homeless Day Shelter, St. Joseph School, the Global Leadership Council in the College of Business, and the CSU Development Council. He lives in Fort Collins with his wife, Robyn, B.S., Applied Human Sciences, 1990, and four children.
Invest in our future: Change a young life, and change the world.
Give today to the Campaign for Colorado State University.
C.J. and Dee Streit
C.J. and Dee Streit have lived in Fort Collins for more than 50 years. When C.J. opened Pizza Roma in 1956, it was the first pizza restaurant in Fort Collins. Years later, they changed the named to The Gondolier. Over the years, they employed numerous Colorado State University students.
The Streits started supporting Colorado State athletics in the early 1960s, helping sponsor men's basketball games. Since then, they have donated to a variety of causes relevant to athletics. They now fund a Legacy Scholarship that supports women's basketball player Bonnie Barbee. Among the benefits of their long giving history are the lasting relationships they have developed with numerous student-athletes, including Bonnie.
"Donating to Colorado State University is very rewarding," C.J. said. "It provides us with a lot of happiness within. People who give live longer and are happier. Try it – you might like it!"
C.J. and Dee are retired; they live in Fort Collins and regularly attend Colorado State athletic events.