The Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation (MDLF) will present former Indiana Lieutenant Governor John M. Mutz with the Daniels Prize Award on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at the MDLF Annual Event. The purpose of the Daniels Prize Award is to recognize Hoosiers whose life’s work has “lifted the State to a new plane of thought, aspiration, expectation and action,” in the spirit of Mitch Daniels’ own leadership. He joins Tim Solso, the late James Morris, Scott Dorsey, the late Bill Oesterle, and Teresa Lubbers as recipients of the Daniels Prize Award.

Foundation Chair, Ron Stiver, stated about his selection: “John is a true Hoosier luminary. As a State Representative and State Senator for 13 years and Lieutenant Governor under Governor Robert Orr for two terms, he has devoted much of his life’s work to public service. This, combined with a long history of corporate and philanthropic leadership, has had immeasurable impact on the State of Indiana over the last half century. He is an exemplary Hoosier who is a deserving recipient of the Daniels Prize.”

Mutz served Indiana for more than fifty years in politics, philanthropy, business, and education. As a public servant and philanthropic leader, he served as president of Lilly Endowment, Inc., president of PSI Energy, and chaired the board of Lumina Foundation for Education as well as the Indianapolis Charter Schools Board. He is the author of Fundraising for Dummies, now in its third printing, and An Examined Life, the John Mutz Story. A graduate of Northwestern University, Mutz is the recipient of nine honorary degrees. 

"This MDLF Fellowship program keeps the unique leadership style and effectiveness of Mitch Daniels front and center for all to see and remember. I’m honored to be a part of it.” said John Mutz

In addition, MDLF named its Class VI Outstanding Fellow, Ewelina Connolly, CEO for Amani Family Services, Inc. which serves the Greater Fort Wayne area. “Ewelina’s strength in relationship building is evident in her meaningful participation inside and outside our Fellowship and in her community. She is always engaged and eager to learn how she can help make Indiana a better place to build a future,” states the Foundation's Fellowship Chair, Maureen Weber. 

Also announced is the MDLF Driving Change Award recipient, Dan Kozlowski, who serves as Executive Director of the Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana. As a Class VI Fellow, Kozlowski’s MDLF Capstone focused on his organization’s expansion in Northwest Indiana to increase access to quality education and resources to teachers and schools to help level and raise the playing field. Weber stated about his selection: “Dan is a fierce advocate for quality education in Northwest Indiana, especially for students in under-resourced and underrepresented communities. His work is a wonderful example of the contributions our Fellows are making across Indiana.”

All three award recipients will be recognized on August 28, 2024 at the MDLF Annual Event and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.

About the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation

The Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation strives to enable leaders and drive change in Indiana, just as Mitch Daniels did as the state’s 49th Governor. The vision for MDLF is to develop a statewide network of change agents, actively working to make Indiana the best place to build a future. 

For more information about the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation, please visit www.mdlfindiana.org or attend the MDLF Annual Event on August 28, 2024 at Crane Bay in Indianapolis.