Last modified: Thursday, October 18, 2007
Danielson honored with Herman B Wells Visionary Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 18, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Donald C. "Danny" Danielson -- for decades, a business and civic leader in Indianapolis and New Castle -- has been honored by the IU Foundation with its Herman B Wells Visionary Award. The award was given in conjunction with the Foundation's Partners in Philanthropy program. Danielson received the award for a lifetime of philanthropic leadership on behalf of Indiana University.
Danny Danielson
Danielson's special contributions to IU were first recognized by then IU President Herman B Wells, who described him in his autobiography, Being Lucky, as an outstanding student leader of the late 1930s and early 1940s.
"That was almost 70 years ago, and Danny is still one of the most generous, articulate, loyal and capable leaders this University has ever known," said IU Foundation President Curt Simic.
Danielson led several major endowment campaigns for IU. He was vice chair of the university-wide Campaign for Indiana in the 1980s, a leader in the School of Medicine capital campaign and the Wells Scholars campaign, co-chair of the Academic Endowment Campaign for IU Bloomington, and a driving force behind the Henry County Danielson Learning Center in New Castle, Ind., associated with IU East. He has been involved in innumerable other fundraising projects for IU.
"He is a tireless and extremely effective fundraiser," Simic added.
Danielson has been a member of the IU Foundation Board of Directors since 1967. He served as an IU Trustee from 1959 to 1980 and was president of that body for 11 years. In recognition of his contributions to IU, he has been awarded an honorary degree and received, among other honors, the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, the Zora G. Clevenger Award from the I-Men's Association, the President's Medal of Excellence, the University Medal, the Thomas Hart Benton Mural Medallion and the IU East Chancellor's Medallion.
Danielson, vice chairman of City Securities Corporation in Indianapolis, also has received numerous honors and awards for his philanthropic and civic achievements in Indianapolis, New Castle and Henry County.
Danielson came to IU from South Dakota, the first member of his family to attend college. He married Patty Peterson Danielson, also an IU graduate. Their three grown children all graduated from IU.
