Project Angel Heart, a Colorado nonprofit that delivers medically tailored meals to individuals living with serious illnesses, received a $10,000 donation from BOK Financial last week as part of the company’s employee-guided giving initiative.
The donation was awarded through BOK Financial’s annual “Guide the Giving” campaign, which allows staff to nominate and vote for nonprofits that have made a personal or local impact. The initiative, launched in 2017, is part of the company’s broader commitment to community investment and employee engagement.
“We could not have been more excited to learn we’d been selected by BOK Financial’s employees for this special support,” said Kristy Adams, director of communications and marketing for Project Angel Heart. “We know there are many organizations in our community doing great work, so we were honored and grateful to be singled out in this way, especially since we were nominated by two employees who have volunteered with us.”
BOK Financial’s Colorado Market CEO, Bill Sullivan, said the initiative was designed to give employees a direct voice in corporate philanthropy. “It’s easy for us to sit in an office and dole out money, but it’s far more powerful when the people who live and work in the community get to choose where it goes,” Sullivan said. “The folks Project Angel Heart serves are dealing with so much, just making sure they’re getting healthy food during a challenging time really speaks to us.”
Founded in 1991, Project Angel Heart delivers more than 800,000 meals each year, designed by dietitians and tailored to the medical needs of clients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart failure, kidney disease, and other serious health conditions. The meals are provided at no cost to recipients.
“This support will directly impact the lives of severely ill neighbors,” Adams said. “Because of the Guide the Giving donation, we will provide more than 800 medically tailored meals and nutrition education to neighbors in need.”
She added that the need for Project Angel Heart’s services is rising amid high food costs and reductions in government support. “Many of the neighbors we serve are making choices between food and medicine,” she said. “BOK Financial’s support helps us provide high-quality nutrition so our neighbors can concentrate on getting better.”
Sullivan said BOK Financial intentionally seeks out smaller nonprofits where a contribution like this can make a meaningful difference. Project Angel Heart fit that model, he added, and the company’s long-standing relationship with the organization made this year’s gift even more special.
“We’ve supported them financially for years, and we’ve had lots of employees volunteer with them,” Sullivan said. “This donation is just an extraordinary extension of that relationship.”
One of those employees is Megan Ryan, a Denver-based member of BOK Financial’s communications team, who has volunteered with Project Angel Heart for several years. She described experiences packing meals, delivering food, and decorating meal bags with handwritten messages.
“It’s a simple act, but it adds a personal touch,” Ryan said. “You know someone on the other end is going through a hard time, and this helps brighten their day.”
Adams said the company’s involvement has extended well beyond funding and volunteer shifts. To date, BOK Financial employees have offered nearly 300 hours of service, and last year the company launched an awareness campaign featuring the nonprofit’s work.
“Project Angel Heart depends on community support, financial and volunteer, in order to fulfill our mission, and BOK Financial has been an incredible partner to us on all fronts,” Adams said.
BOK Financial has more than 5,000 employees companywide, including over 400 in the Denver market. In 2025, 11 nonprofits were selected through the Guide the Giving campaign. Ten received $10,000 each, including Project Angel Heart, and one received $2,500. Employees across all markets are encouraged to vote, and the initiative has become one of the company’s most engaging internal programs.
“Even if someone’s nonprofit doesn’t win, thousands of employees are now learning about incredible organizations they hadn’t heard of before,” Ryan said. “That kind of visibility and awareness can go a long way.”
