The namesakes of The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the Daniels Fund were influential American industrialists. Their stories of success began not with privilege, but with determination and perseverance despite numerous setbacks. The Bradley brothers, Lynde and Harry, grew up in early 1900s Milwaukee. They left high school to support their family, with their mother taking boarders into their home. Through saving and working various jobs, they eventually founded The Allen-Bradley Company, which played a key role in shaping modern manufacturing.
Bill Daniels, born in Greeley, Colorado, in 1920, faced similar challenges. His family moved to Iowa after his father lost his job during the Great Depression. At 12, Daniels sold ice cream to support his family. He later became instrumental in developing the cable television industry, earning recognition as one of its pioneers.
The remarkable aspect of their stories is their ability to recognize their fortune as Americans. Both the Bradleys and Daniels understood their humble beginnings. They valued the freedom and opportunity America provided, enabling them to pursue success through their own efforts. Their gratitude is evident in their legacy.
Daniels contributed to communities across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, investing in education and local development. The Bradleys supported Milwaukee by enhancing civic life, education, and culture. These contributions demonstrate the potential of the American experiment.
America aims to provide equal treatment and freedom for all, making it a leading force for entrepreneurship. It accounts for nearly half of global startup activity, ranking among the best places to initiate a business.
As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, understanding the foundations of this success is crucial. Success was built not on a singular industry or invention, but on a set of principles that each generation must affirm. Today’s challenges include growing distrust in institutions, weakened civic bonds, and doubts about the nation’s ideals.
The fundamental principles are:
Rule of law: The Constitution and legal system offer stability, enabling risks and investments.
Civil society: From the start, Americans have utilized families, religious groups, and voluntary associations to solve problems.
Informed citizenry: A free society requires citizens capable of critical thinking, honest debate, and passing knowledge to the next generation.
These pillars of American exceptionalism allowed Milwaukee high school dropouts and a Depression-era child to build transformative companies. Today, the Daniels Fund and The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation continue to support civil society, uphold the rule of law, educate citizens, and expand opportunities. They have allocated over $3 billion in grants to sustain these principles.
The American experiment thrives not on guaranteed success, but on the freedom to pursue it. As the nation nears 250 years, our duty is to protect that freedom and its supporting institutions for the future. Success will empower Americans to build and dream boldly, as the Bradleys and Daniels did.
Richard Graber is president and CEO of The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Hanna Skandera is president and CEO of the Daniels Fund.
The views expressed in this article are the authors’ own.