THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

About the Helping Hand Award & The 2023 Recipient

The Village is proud to present
the 2023 Helping Hand Award to
Secretary, Treasurer and General
Counsel of the George S. and
Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation,
Robert M. Graham.
Growing up in Fairview, Utah—in
central Utah’s Sanpete County—
Bob Graham developed an
extraordinary work ethic, strong
character and deep belief in the value of “doing for
others.” Following graduation from North Sanpete
High School in Mt. Pleasant, he earned undergraduate
degrees from Snow College and BYU, and then his
law degree from the University of Utah.
During a successful 28-year career as a tax partner with
Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte and Touche), he became
a trusted advisor to a wide array of civic and business
leaders alike, including George S. Eccles. In the late
1980s—with the encouragement of Mr. Eccles—Bob
joined the law firm of Ray, Quinney & Nebeker as well
as the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.
He was named to the Foundation’s Board of Directors
in 1998, and continues to play a key role in its financial
management and grant-making programs.

Honorary Chairs: Mr. Spencer F. Eccles and Ms. Lisa Eccles

Born and raised in Ogden, Utah, the leadership and generosity of Mr. Eccles has for decades helped ensure the vitality of his home state and fellow citizens. For 50 years as a banker, including two decades as Chairman & CEO of First Security Corp., he led the Eccles banking empire prior to its historic merger with Wells Fargo in 2000. Today, he remains active as one of Utah’s most influential advocates and philanthropists as Chairman & CEO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and a board member of four other Eccles family foundations. In these roles, his generosity has benefitted Utah Youth Village for decades. 

An alumnus of the University of Utah, Mr. Eccles also holds a graduate degree from Columbia Business School and seven honorary degrees. His leadership in Utah’s nonprofit, educational, and healthcare communities has included boards such as Union Pacific, the National Parks Foundation, the U.S. Ski Team Foundation, Intermountain Healthcare, and the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, among others. He continues to serve as chairman emeritus of Wells Fargo’s Intermountain Banking Region. 

As President & COO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Ms. Eccles directs the operations of one
of Utah’s largest private philanthropic foundations. Deeply committed to building on the state’s past and ensuring its vibrant future, she works closely with nonprofits statewide in overseeing the Foundation’s grantmaking program that has awarded more than $750 million in areas including Arts & Culture, Community/Social Services, Education, Health & Wellness, and Preservation/Conservation – including generous annual support enriching programs at Utah Youth Village.

A graduate of the University of Utah with an Art History degree, Ms. Eccles has enjoyed serving the state’s arts and cultural communities through board members on numerous organizations including the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Utah Symphony|Utah Opera, the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts, and others. As a member of the University of Utah Board of Trustees, she chaired its Master Plan Committee, and has also volunteered her time and advocacy on behalf of the College of Fine Arts and Natural History Museum of Utah, to name only a few.