Several former and current employees of Denver cable investment banker Daniels & Associates pledged $5 million to the Cable Center to rename the great hall of the organization's headquarters in honor of their late founder Bill Daniels and to establish an educational foundation in his name.
Daniels, who died on March 7, 2000 after a long illness, was a pioneer in the cable industry, first as a systems operator and later as a broker for some of the biggest cable acquisitions in the industry.
Daniels & Associates executive vice president Robert Russo said in a statement that current and former employees at the company began looking for a fitting tribute to their late boss almost immediately after his death.
Russo formed an organizing committee consisting of Daniels & Associates CEO Brian Deevy, Medallion Enterprises LLC chairman John Saeman, former Daniels executive Tony Acone and former Daniels president and chief operating officer Tom Marinkovich, which has secured donations and pledges of more than $2 million. Another $2.5 million was received as a matching challenge grant by an anonymous group.
Through the pledge, the great hall of the newly completed Cable Center will be renamed the Bill Daniels great hall. In addition, portions of the funds will be contributed to the Cable Center's building, construction and technology funds, as well as going toward establishing the Bill Daniels Educational Endowment at the Cable Center.
The endowment fund will create and support evolving educational and training opportunities within the industry.
