October 15, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
Award winners: Philip Anschutz, the founder of Qwest Communications International, and his wife, Nancy, received the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership from the Philanthropy Roundtable, a Washington coalition of philanthropists and foundations.
Why they won: The Denver couple, who prefer to be relatively quiet about their charitable work, have given through their foundation more than $110-million since 2004 to social-service groups, cultural institutions, and conservative causes. In 2000 they established the Foundation for a Better Life, which has featured celebrities, historical figures, and even Kermit the Frog in an advertising campaign that promotes compassion and other values.
Why they stand out from other donors: “If there’s an opportunity to help others, Philip and Nancy Anschutz are always first in line. They don’t wait for others to tell them which organizations and activities deserve their support,” said Adam Meyerson, the Roundtable’s president, in a statement.
What they’ll do with the money: The prize, which is named after a former U.S. Treasury Secretary, comes with $250,000, which the Anschutzes are contributing to the Denver Police Foundation.
To see news about other awards in the nonprofit world, go to http://philanthropy.com/extras.
