“In 1982, lifelong public servant Lew Butler helped establish the foundation’s Daniel E. Koshland Civic Unity Program, named after his mentor, Daniel E. Koshland Sr., who supported social welfare in the region and helped create our foundation in 1948. For the past 37 years, the Koshland program has kept the foundation anchored to its community roots by investing in more than 500 grassroots leaders to strengthen 30 different neighborhoods throughout the Bay Area.
Phyllis Koshland Friedman, daughter of Daniel E. Koshland, was a longtime member of the program’s advisory body, the Koshland Committee. She loved joining our neighborhood tours, learning from local leaders what was happening on the ground, and sharing with them not only the resources she had been afforded, but also her infectious sense of humor.
Phyllis always saw the best in people and was deeply committed to human rights and social justice. She was humble and never cared about recognition, but we would be remiss if we didn’t highlight the impact she had on the lives of so many people in the Bay Area. Her spirit lives on in the strength of our communities.”
– Retha Robinson, Director, Koshland Program
Phyllis and Retha, 2014. Photo courtesy of Retha Robinson.
