Success to Significance Honors David Burnett- Beyond Success

We were visiting the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas with David and Sallie Burnett in April of 2022. David took the seat behind the Resolute Desk and said these prophetic words- “It is up to us to give back to society. It is what makes us great.” Not all giants stand tall. Some walk among us quietly, leaving footprints not in sand but in the hearts of those they meet. Such was David Burnett. Lafayette, Colorado, is like many small towns—a place where neighbors know each other’s names, where the rhythm of life hums along at a steady, familiar pace. But every so often, a soul comes along who doesn’t just live in a town, across a cul-de-sac, but weaves himself into its very fabric. David Burnett was that kind of man.He was more than just a neighbor—he was a force for good. A board member on countless nonprofit organizations, he didn’t just believe in making a difference; he did it, over and over again. And not by standing on soapboxes, not with grand speeches, but with something far more powerful: a giving heart, a generous spirit, and the courage to ask others to join him. Consider this: David served on the board of the Association for Community Living in Boulder County, advocating for those with developmental disabilities. He sat on the finance committee, ensuring funds were wisely allocated to provide services and opportunities for those who needed them most. At EPIC, he was a trusted advisor, working to expand employer-sponsored childcare. He understood that when working parents had reliable childcare, families and businesses thrived.And so, he worked. Not for accolades. Not for recognition. But because it was the right thing to do. He lent his expertise and heart to the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation Board, knowing that quality healthcare should never be a privilege—it should be a promise. And the YMCA of Northern Colorado? David’s fingerprints are there, too. The recent opening of the Inspire Preschool and Infant Care was a testament to his unwavering belief that all children—regardless of background—deserved a strong start. His dream was free universal preschool, a vision he pursued with the same fire that fueled his every endeavor. Some people shy away from asking for help. Not David. He knew the secret—people want to give; they just need someone to show them how. And he was that someone. A phone call, a handshake, a moment of eye contact—David had a way of making you believe that yes, you could do more, you should do more. And because he believed it, you believed it too. He and his wife, Sallie, raised their daughter, Brittany, with the same values. She watched, she learned, she followed in his footsteps. Devoting her life to nonprofits wasn’t just a career choice; it was a calling, a legacy. Her father’s legacy. And that legacy lives on. Recently, the David Burnett Childcare Center opened at the YMCA of Northern Colorado. Brittany said, “Dad worked so incredibly hard for this project and for free universal preschool for children of all ages across Colorado. His vision was to open access for early childhood education to give them a chance to succeed at an early age. I am proud of his legacy and heart for others.” As for David’s career? He was a bank executive with Wells Fargo who happened to see beyond the money and into the currency of life itself. But even the strongest among us are not invincible. Colon cancer came for David at 55. Too soon. Far too soon. And yet, some legacies are not measured in years but in lives touched. In lessons taught. In communities made stronger, charities made richer, hearts made fuller. David Burnett was better than a friend. Better than a brother. More than next of kin. He was a resolute role model.Become a supporter of this podcast: