Pat Stryker

Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow.  

Pat Stryker’s parents and grandparents planted an acorn of giving in her as a young child, and they did it in the best way possible. They set an example. Over the years, the Fort Collins philanthropist has nurtured that acorn into a grove of gifts to her adopted home.

Stryker, 48, is ranked No. 181 in Forbes magazine’s 2005 List of the World’s Richest People. Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Mich., and the granddaughter of Homer Stryker, inventor of a mobile hospital bed, cast cutters and specialty stretchers, the billionaire and her two siblings today control Stryker Corp. But those closest to Stryker say this inheritance may be the least defining aspect of her personality.

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“I don’t think she is doing it for the celebrity of it, but for her vision of making the world a better place,´ said Larry Kendall, chairman of The Group, Inc. “That’s what is so unique about her. I think Pat’s a real gift to this community.”

Stryker first came to Colorado as a child for summer camp and, like so many others, fell in love with the Rocky Mountains. She returned to attend the University of Northern Colorado, moving to Fort Collins in 1980.

“My belief is that Pat aspires to make Colorado, and especially Fort Collins, the best place to raise a child,” observed her friend and colleague, former Colorado State University president Al Yates. “If you look at many of the grants she has done and does, (they place) children first.”

Since 2002, the primary vehicle for Stryker’s philanthropy has been the Bohemian Foundation. Through the Pharos Fund, the foundation provides grants to local nonprofit organizations of up to $30,000 each, totaling more than $1.5 million annually.

Yet it is the foundation’s one-time grants that often receive the most attention. The city of Fort Collins TransFort bus system received a $100,000 grant to ensure youths would ride free throughout 2004 and 2005.

In 2003, the foundation gave CSU $20.1 million to renovate Hughes Stadium and support the University Center for the Arts.

NewWestFest 2005 saw the inauguration of the Bohemian Nights concert series. Plans also are under development for a nonprofit, year-round music venue near the Poudre River in Old Town.

Stryker said she is particularly proud of the foundation’s matching-funds programs because they encourage community philanthropy.

“Poudre School District children raised over $57,000, which we matched for tsunami relief,” according to Stryker. “We also have challenged the people of Larimer County to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina, which the Bohemian Foundation will match dollar for dollar.”

In September 2002, Stryker became involved in Colorado politics when she donated $3 million to the English Plus coalition, a group working to defeat the English-only Amendment 31.

“Much of my philanthropic work supports programs that address symptoms, rather than the cause of the issues and challenges facing our communities,” says Stryker. “Politics provides the opportunity to implement good social policy, which can correct the root causes, resulting in long-term solutions.”

Stryker’s friends say although she’s a very private person, over the years she has creatively learned how best to use her visibility for the greatest good.