Dan Engelsma joined the Fraser board in 1978, after one of his Kraus-Anderson colleagues sought his expertise for the nonprofit.
At the time, the Fraser Board of Directors mainly consisted of parents, and Fraser needed business experts, like Engelsma, to help the organization grow.
Over more than 40 years, the president and Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Kraus-Anderson Realty Company helped Fraser grow from a small organization with an annual budget of $1 million to an organization with seven clinics and an annual budget over $72 million. As chair of the board, Engelsma also made the crucial decision to hire Fraser CEO Diane Cross in 1989.
“I have had the honor of knowing Dan for over 30 years, and Fraser wouldn’t be where it is today without the strength of Dan’s leadership. Fraser has been truly blessed by his expertise and commitment to helping children and families with special needs.”
- Diane S. Cross
To recognize Engelsma’s retirement and achievements, Kraus-Anderson and the Engelsma Family Foundation has donated a gift to Fraser. The main gym at Fraser School has been named The Daniel Engelsma Gymnasium. The gift provides upkeep and new equipment for more than 300 children who attend Fraser School and use the gym.
The gift also created The Daniel Engelsma Teacher Education Fund. This fund supports ongoing teacher education, so Fraser educators can stay informed about cutting-edge techniques and best practices. This allows teachers to continue to provide the best possible care to students with special needs.
Dan and his wife Shelly continue to donate towards the Fraser mission: to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of children, adults and families with special needs.