Hoosier Cancer Research Network, formerly known as Hoosier Oncology Group, recently honored Donald C. “Danny” Danielson with the 2013 Terry Hoeppner Patient Advocacy Award in recognition of his long-standing support for cancer research.

The award, named in memory of beloved Indiana University football coach Terry Hoeppner, who died from brain cancer in 2007, honors individuals who exhibit Coach Hep’s spirit and determination to champion their cause.

“What a thrill it is to me that Danny Danielson has been chosen to receive the Terry Hoeppner Patient Advocacy Award,” said Jane Hoeppner, who established the award in her husband’s memory. “Danny’s enthusiasm and passion for others is such an encouragement. His attitude reminds me of how Coach Hep approached life and all its challenges. Thank you Danny for your tremendous contributions, and congratulations on an honor that is well-deserved!”

Danielson is well known for his business leadership and generous support of individuals and organizations in the state of Indiana and beyond.

Danielson began a long and rewarding career with Modernfold, Inc., in 1948, in charge of sales, and later served as president of the company, based in New Castle, Ind. During his tenure at Modernfold, Danielson led the development of a new industry whose product, the Modernfold Door, transformed the way businesses, schools, and churches utilized interior space.

A career move in 1976 led Danielson to City Securities Corporation in Indianapolis, where he has served as vice chairman since 1981. At City Securities, he led a succession plan for CEO and president that selected leaders who have more than doubled revenues and earnings.

Danielson has held prominent roles in a number of national organizations, including chairman of the National Board of Trustees of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes from 1983-1987, during a time when the ministry more than doubled in size. He was appointed in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush to the Credit Standards Advisory Committee.

[Photo: HCRN co-founder and IU Simon Cancer Center Director Patrick J. Loehrer, Sr., MD, presents the 2013 Terry Hoeppner Patient Advocacy Award to Danny Danielson during Hoosier Cancer Research Network’s 30th Anniversary Dinner on June 19, 2014].

Within the State of Indiana, Danielson has received two Sagamore of the Wabash awards, and in 2009, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels named him the recipient of the Sachem Award, the state’s highest honor given annually in recognition of a lifetime of excellence and personal virtue that reflects credit and honor upon the state. He was the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Healthcare Heroes Recipient in 2004 and was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame in 2010. Most recently, Danielson was named an Indiana Living Legend in 2014 by the Indiana Historical Society (see video).

A committed champion for the institutions and organizations that have made an impact in his own life, Danielson’s philosophy on giving is both simple and profound: “I ask myself, ‘Have I benefitted from this organization?’ And if so, shouldn’t I feel some obligation to give back?”

This philosophy has guided Danielson to support his alma mater in numerous ways over the years, serving as a member of the Indiana University board of trustees from 1959-1980 and as chairman of the board for 11 years. He served as vice chairman of the Campaign for Indiana and co-chairman of the Endowment Campaign for Indiana University, both of which far exceeded fundraising goals.

Together with his wife Patty, who passed away in December 2013, Danielson is a strong supporter of the city of New Castle. Patty was a significant catalyst in the growth of the Henry County Community Foundation, and served on its board until 2006. During that time, the Danielsons led the campaigns to establish the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, the IU East satellite campus in New Castle, and the new Henry County YMCA. The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame dedicated the Patty and Danny Danielson Theatre in June 2014 in recognition of the Danielsons’ long-standing support.

“She was always focused on doing the right thing, and in doing it with joy,” Danielson said of his wife. “People could see that here was a woman who was very interested in them, who would go the extra mile to be helpful, and her actions spoke so much more than words.”

Danielson’s support for cancer research came through his friendship with Dr. Joseph Walther. In 1985, Danielson assisted with the sale of Winona Memorial Hospital, which Dr. Walther founded in 1956, and joined the board of directors of the newly formed Walther Cancer Institute (now Walther Cancer Foundation).

Danielson became well acquainted with Hoosier Cancer Research Network through his association with the Walther Cancer Foundation and the physicians who sat on the foundation’s board.

“I got to know Dr. Bill Fisher and Dr. Pat Loehrer when I went on the board at Walther, which was funding Hoosier Oncology Group at that time,” said Danielson. “I could see the benefits of what the HOG was doing. Through HOG we had these clinical trials going on at various locations around the state, and it would grow a little every year. It was exciting to see.”

Danielson continues to support Hoosier Cancer Research Network through the Danny Danielson Translational Innovation Award, which he established in 2013 through the Walther Cancer Foundation. The $10,000 award, given twice each year, provides funding to investigators working in partnership with HCRN to support the correlative components of clinical trial protocols when financial support is not otherwise available.

2014 award recipient Matthew Galsky, MD, director of genitourinary medical oncology at the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital, noted the importance of gifts like Danielson’s to explore critical questions in cancer research.

“The only way to learn from both the successes and failures and build on that to design the next generation of trials is to integrate some translational science into those trials, to really understand the molecular underpinnings of how treatments are working or not working,” said Dr. Galsky. “Oftentimes when we are granted funding to do investigator-initiated clinical trials, the funding to support some of that additional work is not included, and so to have funds to support that work and to be able to learn as much as possible from every patient who graciously volunteers to participate in this research is a tremendous opportunity.”

Danielson’s experience with cancer became personal when he was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the age of 88. He underwent surgery to remove his bladder and a new bladder was constructed out of tissue from his small intestine. After five years of follow-up, the cancer had not recurred. Danielson credits Dr. Michael Koch, chair of the Department of Urology at Indiana University School of Medicine, with saving his life.

Once again, Danielson felt motivated to give back.

“I felt so fortunate to get through that situation that my wife and I decided that we were going to be the catalyst in establishing a $1.5 million chair at the medical school in Dr. Koch’s name,” he said.

In May 2014, Indiana University School of Medicine announced the establishment of the Michael O. Koch Chair in Urology.

At the age of 94, Danielson remains active in both his professional and philanthropic pursuits. Hoosier Cancer Research Network is grateful for Danielson’s support and is honored to include him among our champions of cancer research as the recipient of the 2013 Terry Hoeppner Patient Advocacy Award.

Hoosier Cancer Research Network (formerly known as Hoosier Oncology Group) conducts innovative cancer research in collaboration with academic and community physicians and scientists across the United States. The organization provides comprehensive clinical trial management and support, from conception through publication. Created in 1984 as a program of the Walther Cancer Institute, Hoosier Cancer Research Network became an independent nonprofit clinical research organization in 2007. Since its founding, Hoosier Cancer Research Network has initiated more than 150 trials in a variety of cancer types and supportive care, resulting in more than 300 publications. More than 4,400 patients have participated in Hoosier Cancer Research Network clinical trials.