Dan and Ada Rice
Daniel F. Rice (1896–1975) and his wife Ada L. Rice (1898–1977) were American business people,
Dan Rice and his wife, Ada, contributed to many charities and organizations and created the Rice Foundation which is still running today. The Rice Foundation gives contributions to places that the Rices believed in such as programs to prevent child abuse and for many research areas such as plant development and preservation, medical advancement and animal conservation. Additionally, the Foundation supports the arts such as the Chicago History Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and other museums.
Because the Rices were widely respected for their extensive philanthropies in the Chicago area, a number of places are named in their honor in the region. The combination of their first names formed Danada and appears in many places in Wheaton, Illinois.
Thoroughbred racing
In 1929 the Rices bought a 152-acre (0.62 km2) farm located south of Wheaton which became named Danada Farm.[2] Their house was located across from the farm and later was named Danada House which now is a museum and a place for social functions. It can house about 150 people for a party. Mrs. Rice was known to throw lavish parties at the house. Danada House is a 19-room estate that contains gardens, a greenhouse, a swimming pool, porch and atrium. Danada Farms had corn, wheat, sheep, hogs, cattle, chickens, turkeys and an apple orchard. Over the years the farm grew to over 1,350 acres (5.5 km2). The couple loved Thoroughbred horse racing and built a Kentucky-style stable that could hold 26 horses. A half-mile training track, which included a 4-position electronic starting gate, was built across the street from the stables. Later, a tunnel was built under Naperville Road for the horses to safely get to the stables. The track, starting gate, and tunnel still exist today.
In 1946, they acquired a part of the
In addition to the sport of horse racing, in the latter part of the 1940s Dan Rice was a shareholder in the Los Angeles Dons of the newly formed All-America Football Conference.
Philanthropy
In 1947, Dan Rice set up the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation.
Rice Foundation beneficiaries
The following places in the Chicago metropolitan area have benefited from the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation:
- The Chicago Botanic Gardenshouses the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center.
- The Chicago History Museum exterior facade on Clark Street honors the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Pavilion.
- The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Building is part of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Child and Family Center in Evanston is part of the Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois.
- The Brookfield Zoo houses the Daniel F. and Ada L Rice Conservation and Biology Research Center, which contains a molecular genetics laboratory that conducts tests to analyze species and subspecies.
- The Field Museumhas the Dan F. and Ada L. Rice Gallery which houses changing themed exhibits.
- The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicagocontains the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Patient Treatment Center.
- The Shedd Aquarium has the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Pool, Amphitheater and Underwater Viewing Gallery.
- The Adler Planetarium had the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Solarium and cafeteria.
- The Village of Skokie, Illinois partnered with the Rice Foundation to build the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in 1996
- In 1994, the foyer of the Lyric Opera of Chicago containing Austrian crystal chandeliers and elaborate stenciled ceilings was named the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand foyer.
- racquetball courts, and the Trophy Room. The Trophy Room contains the honors and awards of Dan and Ada Rice including the victory racing plates worn by Lucky Debonair, winner of the 1965 Kentucky Derby.[5]
References
- ^ a b Anderson, Jon. "PATRONS PAR EXCELLENCE". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Learn about the Danada House in Wheaton, IL for Your Event". Danada House. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ Wood, Alice (15 July 2021). "Leaders & Legacies: Dan and Ada Rice, philanthropists, business people, thoroughbred racehorse breeders". Daily Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ University, Benedictine. "Rice Center | Benedictine | Chicago | Catholic Universities". www.ben.edu. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- Moore, Jean, and Hiawatha Bray. DuPage at 150 and Those Who Shaped Our World. Chicago: West Chicago Printing Company, 1989.
- Danada House website
- Information on Daniel and Ada Rice at the Danada Equestrian Center