On October 23rd, Forbes Magazine released its 2017 issue of Forbes 400, a list comprised of the richest people in America, but few people in the community know that a Fort Collins resident comes in at 248th place at a net worth valued at $3.1 billion  and tied with the current U.S. President Donald Trump, among 13 other individuals including the creators of well known social media app Snapchat. That resident is businesswoman, philanthropist, and political activist Patricia Anne Stryker. Stryker inherited her wealth from her late grandfather, surgeon Homer Stryker, who was responsible for most hospital technology that is used today, including hospital bed frames, stretchers, and emergency medical equipment.

Stryker is not just your average billionaire blowing money on material things. Although she keeps a low profile in Fort Collins, she is the founder of one of the area’s biggest charities, The Bohemian Foundation. She can be credited for the Fort Collins Museum of Science, the colorful pianos located around town, the Bohemian Nights Festival, and even the program that Rocky takes part in annually, Give Next where students are given contributions and the means to raise their own funds and give to the non-profit of their choosing. She also supports international programs like Build Change, a non profit that helps emerging countries to recover after natural disaster and a program called Educate Girls.

Like most other Foco residents Stryker is a Rams fan until the end; she has donated a substantial amount to the university, including 20 million dollars in 2004, mostly benefitting  the school’s football team. It is also speculated that she was one of the “secret donors” who donated another $20 million in 2016 to have the field in the new stadium named after coach Sonny Lubick, although this isn’t confirmed.

Charity isn’t the only belief Stryker has endowed upon the community; she is also very involved in politics. In fact she was considered one of the largest Democratic donors of the 2016. She donated $3 million to a ballot initiative that would have eradicated most bilingual programs in many schools around Colorado. She is strong supporter of bi-lingual education. Besides this, she and her brother, who identifies as gay, have made many contributions to the LGBTQ community.

Pat Stryker is and will continue to be one of Fort Collins greatest assets. Instead of keeping the riches that fell upon her all to herself, she again and again finds ways to change her community for the better and inspire others to do the same.