“Pay it Forward” may be Ron Davis’s mantra. Following many years building a successful business career, he now employs his experience to support several non-profit charitable ventures.“Pay it Forward” may be Ron Davis’s mantra. Following many years building a successful business career, he now employs his experience to support several non-profit charitable ventures.
In his business life, Ron pioneered the bottled water industry in North America. Under his tutelage, Perrier and regional brands such as Arrowhead and Calistoga, became industry leaders. He founded, and was twice President of the International Bottled Water Association. He led the way through aggressive legislative and regulatory initiatives to assure high quality industry standards. Ron eventually sold the Perrier Group and spent several years as an active investor and venture capitalist in emerging companies, leverage buyouts and real estate.
Recently, Ron has focused his attention and leadership qualities on charitable causes. Once again, Ron responded to a passion, and founded Guardian Scholars, an educational scholarship program for foster youth providing them with full tuition, housing, job opportunities, health insurance, and other support services. Established in 1998, the Guardian Scholars Program works in partnership with child welfare agencies and the community promoting educational success though a combination of financial, academic, emotional and social support for foster youth. Ron states, “The daily challenges and obstacles that young people, raised in the foster care system, must overcome have left a deep impact on my life.” While originated in California, Guardian Scholars now serves as a boilerplate program in five states and more than twenty universities.
Ron is currently serving as Chairman of the Vail Valley Medical Center, and is on the boards of Cal State Fullerton’s Foundation Board of Governors, the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, and The Youth Foundation in Eagle County, Colorado.
Ron’s skills as a visionary leader are legendary, and The Youth Foundation is very fortunate to have him on the Executive Committee of its Board of Directors. Each week Ron sends advice and quotes of inspiration to the Guardian Scholar Family; to join Ron’s weekly e-mail list contact Katie at the Youth Foundation: 970 763 7013.