Lisa Eccles to be honored as SL Chamber's 46th ‘Giant in Our City’

Lisa Eccles, president and chief operating officer of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, has been named as the 46th “Giant In Our City” by the Salt Lake Chamber. The award recognizes those with exceptional and distinguished service as well as extraordinary professional achievement, according to the chamber.

“As an engaged philanthropist and thoughtful community leader, Lisa Eccles has supported Utah nonprofits and their work lifting others for decades,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Her passion for giving back along with her unwavering dedication to building our community have impacted countless lives through the Found-ation’s support of education, arts and culture, health and wellness, social services, and preservation and conservation. We are honored to recognize Lisa with this award and are grateful for her continued commitment to leading Utah into a better future.”

“For more than 30 years, Eccles has led one of Utah’s largest and oldest private philanthropic foundations with a personal touch and a pledge to make a lasting and meaningful difference in the lives of others,” the chamber said in announcing the selection.

Awarding nearly 400 grants each year, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation supports nonprofits throughout of the state and has awarded over $850 million in grants to date. Eccles continues to carry on her family’s legacy of giving back.

“My parents instilled in me and my siblings a deep love for Utah and for all those who live here, so it’s been a tremendous honor and joy over so many years to partner with outstanding organizations that enhance our quality of life,” Eccles said. “I’m humbled by this recognition, and I hope this award will also shine a light on the incredible work of our dedicated nonprofits that help Utah children, families and communities thrive.”

In addition to her extensive philanthropic experience, Eccles has served on the board of the National Park Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation – National Trust Council, co-founded and co-chaired Utah Community Builders of the Salt Lake Chamber as well as served on the boards of Utah Symphony and Utah Opera, Preservation Utah, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Salt Lake County Center for the Arts, Natural History Museum of Utah, Utah Museum of Fine Arts and Intermountain Healthcare’s Community Care Foundation, among others.

The award will be presented at the 46th Giant in Our City celebration. Event details will be released later.

In addition to her leadership of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Eccles serves as a director of the Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Family Foundation and the Eccles-family-owned Goldener Hirsch hotel in Deer Valley.

Eccles’ years of leadership and community involvement has been recognized by many organizations, including Catholic Community Services of Utah, Junior Achievement and the Utah Humanities Council. In 2019, she received the Sundance Institute Women’s Leadership Award.

Eccles holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Utah and has served two terms on its board of trustees and chaired its Campus Master Plan Committee. She has also served on the UofU’s National Advisory Council, its capital campaign steering committee, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Endowment for Medical School Excellence and the College of Music advisory board, among others.