Last month I had the honor of receiving the Colorado School of Mines 2015 Young Philanthropist Award. During their annual Evening of Excellence, Mines celebrated those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer and philanthropic involvement in the university. The Young Philanthropist Award was one of eight philanthropy awards presented that evening. I must say, I was deeply honored to share the stage with such generous alumni and staff. And I also learned CSM’s newly elected president, Paul Johnson, was a Surfer user!
Colorado School of Mines President Paul Johnson, Golden Software CEO Blakelee (Midyett) Mills, and CSM Foundation Board of Governors Executive Committee Chairman and CEO David Wagner.
I am a strong believer in giving back to those entities that have given me so much, and Mines has gifted me beyond measure. On the professional front, CSM paved the way to my current position here at Golden Software. Golden Software has very close ties to Mines as our two founders were a CSM graduate student and a CSM faculty member. The majority of the Golden Software team graduated from Mines, and a significant number of our customers are also Mines graduates. On the personal front, I met my husband at CSM (well, technically, at the Ace Hi Tavern, but we were both students at the time).
In addition to supporting Mines, below are other ways both Golden Software and I give back:
- Complimentary training classes for students
- Complimentary software for professors
- Student discounts on software
- Substantial discounts for university labs
- Teen mentor
Donations and volunteering efforts for:
- Rotary Club of Golden
- Rotary International PolioPlus Fund
- Golden Fire Department
- Foothills Art Center
- Golden Civic Foundation
- Golden Art Program
- Golden High School Internships
- Foothills Animal Shelter
I’d like to hear from you. How do you give back?