In 2019, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts established the Daniel L. Ritchie Spotlight Award to recognize individuals and organizations that advance the DCPA’s mission.

Named after former DCPA Chairman & CEO Dan Ritchie, award recipients are those who are passionate about the way in which theatre and arts education can engage and inspire the Colorado community.

John and Hillary Morgridge

If there’s a phrase that encapsulates Dan Ritchie, it’s “pay it forward,” and this year’s Spotlight Award recipients come from a legacy of doing just that.

John C. & Hillary Morgridge and the Morgridge Family Foundation will be honored with the Daniel L. Ritchie Spotlight Award at the DCPA’s annual gala, Saturday Night Alive on June 14. The Foundation has been a partner of the DCPA and its Shakespeare in the Parking Lot program since 2019.

“When John and I first came to DCPA,” said Hillary, “we saw so many amazing programs. But as soon as we heard about Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, it was like this click. Every time we meet and learn what the program is doing and how many more kids have been exposed to theatre through this program, it just amazes us.”

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot offers abridged productions of Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream to area schools and community centers. To date, more than 115,000 students and neighbors throughout Colorado have had an opportunity to see free performances of Shakespeare.

The cast of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

As a regular attendee at Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, Hillary has many memorable experiences, but one really resonated. “I remember [we were at] Macbeth and there was a three-year-old who said, ‘That man’s bad, Mommy.’ And I was like, ‘A three-year-old is listening to Shakespeare language and interpreting enough to understand emotions and empathize with characters.’ It was just one of those ‘wow’ moments when I thought, ‘This truly can impact anyone who sees it.”

It also was one of those moments that underscored John C. and Hillary’s reason for giving. As third generation philanthropists, the Morgridge Family Foundation was co-founded by John and Carrie Morgridge in 2008 with seed capital provided by his parents, John P. and Tashia Morgridge. John Sr. served as CEO of Cisco Systems (1988-1994) and helped create the Cisco Net Academy, which was the forerunner to today’s online education system. He and Tashia set an early example for the family as avid philanthropists.

John Jr. and his wife Carrie founded the Morgridge Family Foundation to improve their children’s schools by expanding technology and training into rural areas of Colorado, which later grew to support other sectors. To date, their foundation has given more than $178 million in grants, funding 150 projects per year.

They, in turn, impressed the importance of philanthropy upon their two children — John C. and Michelle — each of whom have been encouraged to support their own areas of interest.

Chloe McLeod in Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Photo by McLeod9 Creative

For John C. and his wife Hillary, that passion was arts education.

According to John C., the Foundation is deeply rooted in the idea that education is the great equalizer. “When Hillary and I were tasked with making our own path, we found that our joy with giving started to stem from the idea of making childhood magical. And part of making childhood magical is giving experiences and embracing arts and culture, things that exist outside what might be accessible to them in school.

“Shakespeare in the Parking Lot just has that ability to give kids that vital experience of professional theatre that they might not have had otherwise.”

Part of the couple’s support of the Shakespeare in the Parking Lot program allowed the DCPA to purchase a truck that not only allows the acting troupe to cover more ground throughout the state but also serves as the stage.

“Through the generosity of John, Hillary and the Morgridge Family Foundation, the DCPA has been able to literally take its show on the road,” said Allison Watrous, Executive Director of Education & Community Engagement. “We now offer the program in the spring and fall, providing nearly 65 schools with a free performance followed by in-class workshops that connect themes of the play with issues that kids face every day. We owe a great debt of gratitude to John and Hillary for their support and active participation in the program.”

But it’s not enough to have a strong program. John C. and Hillary also seek out partners whom they trust. “Trust-based philanthropy is important,” said Hillary. “You have to find the good organizations, the good leaders, and put your trust in them. Continue working alongside them as a partner, but trust that they are doing everything they can to make the community better.”

The Denver Center, its leaders, and its Shakespeare in the Parking Lot program are only able to make the community better through the generosity of individuals and organizations such as John, Hillary and the Morgridge Family Foundation.