Milton Danko 1919-1957 Photo: 1938

The Milton & Mary M. Danko Golden Rule Award

Mary M. Danko 1913-1998 Photo: 1937

Milton & Mary M. Danko

Through their selfless actions, Milton and Mary Danko helped many people. Milton exhibited great courage while serving with the US Navy during WW II in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre. After the war, he was a union leader with IUE 301 and served on the Board of Administrators of the GE Employees' Community Service Fund. He was also certain to ensure adequate housing for his wife Mary and their four children before he succumbed to the insidious effects of Multiple Sclerosis in 1957.

Despite early widowhood and her own health problems, Mary served as a wonderful role model for others until her death in 1998, and never flinched while caring for her quadriplegic son at home for nearly the last 30 years of her life.

Because both Milton and Mary cared for others and gave when it seemed there was nothing left to give, The Milton & Mary M. Danko Golden Rule Award was established in their memory through the University at Albany Foundation. Simply stated, the Golden Rule requires us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In this spirit, each year, starting in the year 2001, a junior enrolled in the University at Albany's School of Business will be considered for the award based on a demonstrated pattern of giving to others his/her most precious resource: time. A scholarship of $750 will be directly credited to the winner's account through the University's Student Accounts Office. In addition, the winner will designate a matching amount of $750 to be contributed to an approved not-for-profit organization that focuses on the needs of the hungry and homeless.

Generous support for the endowment of this award was provided by:

• The Belardo Family
• The Capital District (NY) Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
• The Capital District (NY) Chapter of the International Association for Financial Planning
• The Capital District (NY) Insurance Community
• Centre College, Danville, KY
• Dr. Samuel K. C. Chang
• Comfortex Corporation
• Court of Claims -- State of New York
• The Danko Family
• The Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY
• The Ecumenical Stewardship Center, Indianapolis, IN
• The Financial Planning Association
• The Griswold Family
• HSBC Bank USA
• The Hudson Mohawk Library Association, NY
• The Jewish Community Foundation of Broward County, FL
• The Jewish Community Foundation of the North Shore, MA
• Key PrivateBank & Key Small Business Services
• The Kirschner Family
• Brent Lang, Investment Advisor, Canaccord Capital, British Columbia, Canada
• Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY
• The New Jersey Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives
• The New York Business Development Corporation
• The New York State Small Business Development Center (NYSSBDC)
• The New York State Association of Women in Education
• The Northeast Chapter New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA)
• PaineWebber Incorporated, Glens Falls, NY
• The Patriot Group, Inc.
• Sales Force One, LLC
• The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School & the Ben Lipson Community High School, Broward County, FL
• The Shultz Family
• Siena College
• The Sisterhood Temple Gates of Heaven, Schenectady, NY
• The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association/College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF)
• Towson University
• The Van Ness Family
• Whitston Publishing Company

The University at Albany Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization associated with the University at Albany, State University of New York. The Foundation can be contacted through the Office of University Advancement, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222.

Seek not revenge, nor be mindful of the injury of thy citizens. Thou shalt love thy friend as thyself. I am the Lord.
-Leviticus 19:18

Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
-Matthew 19:19

To be considered for this award, by the end of March, University at Albany Business Administration and Accounting majors with between 56 and 88 completed credit hours, must submit a résumé and a personal statement to the Dean's Office in the School of Business. The personal statement must:

• Describe at least one significant voluntary activity
• Indicate the number of years and hours/week the voluntary activity consumed
• Include verifiable outcomes (i.e., letters of reference, or contact information
• Suggest future plans for additional voluntary activities

Send your completed application to:

The Office of the Dean
School of Business
University at Albany
State University of New York
Albany, NY 12222

Lauren has volunteered her time to many in need through the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchens, thrift stores, the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization, and the Newman Association.

Through the Newman Association, Lauren went to Washington D.C. for Spring Break, not to go on a vacation, but to help the hungry and the homeless. She visited some of the most run down parts of D.C. and walked the streets handing out clothing to whoever would take it. She also prepared and handed out food from a church in the middle of this poor area.

One moment during the trip that she will always remember was when a woman, who she had been helping, said to her in a very clear voice, “what is your name?” She said “Lauren” and the woman said in reply, “you are very good,” then smiled and turned around. The amazing part was that Lauren had been helping her for quite some time and all the while was under the impression she could not even speak English as she continued to mumble if anyone tried to speak to her.

Lauren exemplifies the need to reach out to others, irrespective of initial impressions and expectations.

To carry on the spirit of the Golden Rule, Lauren selected the Catholic Campaign for Human Development for a matching gift to the scholarship she will receive as she enters her senior year.

Keep up the good work, Lauren!

Past Winners