The Salt Lake Chamber honored Lisa Eccles, president and chief operating officer of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, with its esteemed 2025 Giant in our City award on Thursday.
Hosted by Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, and his wife Mary Catherine Perry, vice president of public policy and government affairs at the Salt Lake Chamber, the event celebrated Eccles as the 46th recipient of this prestigious recognition.
“It is the year of Lisa,” mentioned Perry, highlighting Eccles’ significant contributions to the community through her philanthropic work.
The Giant in our City award, established by the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors in 1969, seeks to honor individuals demonstrating exceptional public service paired with extraordinary professional accomplishments.
Prior to Eccles, notable recipients of the award included former governor Gary Herbert, business mogul Gail Miller, and philanthropist Kem Gardner.
In his remarks, Perry emphasized the core values that define Eccles, saying, “Philanthropy is at the heart of Lisa’s life’s work.
At her core, she believes in the life-changing impact of a helping hand, the limitless potential of young people, and the transformative power of the arts to inspire, heal, and bring people together.”
The award presentation took place at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, where Eccles expressed her mixed feelings about the accolade.
“I definitely prefer to work behind the scenes,” she said during her acceptance speech.
“Being recognized as a giant in our city is, without doubt, the most uncomfortable and overwhelming night of my life.
But at the same time, I’m filled with such gratitude for the outpouring of love and support I’ve received.”
Eccles’ journey began after she graduated from the University of Utah in 1989 with a degree in art history.
Originally taking a part-time position at the charitable foundation started by her Uncle George and Aunt Lolie, she intended to work there for only a year.
However, three years later, the job evolved into a full-time role, and Eccles eventually became a significant leader within the organization, which was historically male-dominated.
She has been at the helm of the foundation’s grant program, which has distributed nearly $1 billion to countless worthy causes over her tenure.
Notably, two other members of the Eccles family have received the Giant in our City award: Lisa’s father, Spencer Eccles, and her uncle, George Eccles.
This milestone designates Lisa and Spencer as the first father-daughter duo to be recognized with the award.
In a video tribute honoring his daughter, Spencer Eccles stated, “She is, in my mind — no question, a giant in our city.”
In addition to her foundation work, Lisa Eccles co-founded Utah Community Builders, a non-profit linked to the Salt Lake Chamber.
Her service extends to various boards, including those of the National Park Foundation and the Utah Symphony, as well as involvement with the Natural History Museum of Utah and Intermountain Healthcare’s Community Care Foundation.
Eccles has also dedicated her efforts to preserving and restoring culturally and environmentally significant sites across Utah, such as Brigham Young Academy and Peterson Dance Hall.
“It’s especially meaningful to be recognized by my peers in the business community, who I admire so much,” Eccles said during her heartfelt acceptance speech.
From the stage, she expressed her gratitude to the Salt Lake Chamber and acknowledged her family, stating that they are her best friends and allies in community service.
“We are truly in this together,” she affirmed, emphasizing the collaboration involved in her philanthropic efforts.
The ceremony also saw the presentation of the Utah Community Builder Award to Joseph Grenny, a well-known author and co-founder of The Other Side Academy.
Grenny was recognized for his commitment to combating poverty and empowering individuals facing addiction and homelessness, as noted by Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber.
This award is given to individuals who go above and beyond to address critical community issues, highlighting the profound impact one can have in uplifting others.
image source from：https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/04/24/lisa-eccles-giant-in-our-city/
