Adelaide Daniels Key - A soul afire for the things she believes in
Adelaide Key is a giver. She gives not only from her heart, but also with down-to-earth good sense. Her gifts are placed where they make the most of others' efforts and ensure ongoing community benefit. This fits with her family tradition of "paying it forward" and "giving back," phrases she uses often.
Adelaide Worth Daniels Key grew up in the prominent Daniels family, then publishers of the Raleigh News & Observer newspaper. Her parents' cheers and groans as the daily edition of the N&O was read in her family home are etched in her memory of lively childhood mornings.
An example of "paying it forward" and giving back what is received was cited by Anne Ponder, chancellor of the University of North Carolina - Asheville. In 1998, Adelaide Key gave funds to establish a center to coordinate student volunteer efforts there. Today, Ponder said, hundreds of hours of volunteer time - tutoring and mentoring - come out of the Key Center for Service Learning in the student union. Western Carolina University has received her substantial gifts as well.
Key is a philanthropist, the simplest definition of which is "loving people, expressing goodwill." She is quoted as saying, "Philanthropy has little to do with money." Key dispenses goodwill with business acumen as well as open hands. Her gifts foster the most worthy efforts - health, education, community relations, music and the arts.
Pat Smith of the Community Foundation of WNC sketches the big picture, stating, "Adelaide deeply loves Western North Carolina - our people and our mountains. She has a compassionate and sensitive heart. She has fought with a soul afire for the things she believes in. She is extraordinarily generous. All around us, life is better because of Adelaide Key."
Battle Haslam, M.D., a recipient of Mission's 2008 Founders' Day honors, described Key as a "person of meaningful means" who has used her understanding of adversity to help others. Citing Key as a humanitarian who avoids the spotlight, Haslam stated, "There are legions of beneficiaries of the gracious philosophy of this woman."
Adelaide Key is aware of the physical and emotional burdens of illness cast not only on the patient, but also the family. On her own initiative she founded "a home away from home," The Rathbun Center hospital hospitality house for families whose loved ones are patients at Mission and other hospitals. She was inspired by Dr. Lewis S. Rathbun's leadership in the Life after Cancer support program, in which she participated. "Adelaide Key is a wonderful woman," Rathbun said.
The Rathbun Center, opened in 1994, has served more than 19,000 families and 36,000 individuals. Guests are deeply grateful. Young parents of a premature baby said, "Today we are able to take our infant son home. We are so thankful for this peaceful refuge."
A Mission outpatient said, "Words can never express the gratitude I feel for this house and the wonderful people who made it possible for me to receive radiation treatments for my cancer."
Key's keen mind has made her a sought-after board member of powerful institutions. She is serving a second four-year term on the Board of Governors for the University of North Carolina system and is a lifetime member of the board of the American Cancer Society.
Although she has described herself as shy, Key has a take-hold manner of getting things done. She is an entrepreneur. While residing in Macon County, she operated a gourmet gift shop, The Pantry Key, in Franklin. She and a friend recently opened an arts and crafts gallery for aspiring young talent.
Key is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is a builder of exciting homes where she hosts friends and community events. She loves dogs and her pets wag their tails among her guests.
- Nancy Marlowe Thursday, October 29, 2009
