Tammen Society

The Tammen Society recognizes individuals who have made a deferred gift to The Children's Hospital Foundation. These individuals are part of a distinguished history that was started by Harry and Agnes Reid Tammen.

Harry H. Tammen arrived in Denver in 1880 and worked his way up from operating a curio shop to becoming co-owner of The Denver Post. In 1892 Harry married Agnes Reid. Together, they would make several generous gifts to The Children's Hospital. But nothing could prepare the Hospital for what would occur in 1921.

This story begins with a gift of a string of pearls. After J. Ogden Armour, a friend of the Tammens, gave his wife an impressive string of pearls, Harry vowed that he would give Agnes one as well. Before Christmas of 1921, Harry presented Agnes with a check for $100,000, his year-end dividend from The Denver Post. This was his promised gift, which she could use to buy the pearls.

Although delighted, Agnes could not help thinking of The Children's Hospital fund drive. A new wing was to be built, and she had promised to contribute $1,000 of the $50,000 required to build the wing. She asked Harry if it was okay to give the $50,000. He was so touched by her concern that together they decided to give the entire $100,000 to the Hospital. And legend tells us that Agnes still got her pearls!

Three years later, in 1924, Harry and Agnes established a perpetual trust to provide the Hospital with income to care for indigent children. The long relationship between the Tammens and The Children's Hospital continues today. The Tammen Society honors the Tammens along with other individuals who have provided or established a planned gift for The Children's Hospital. These individuals automatically become members of The Tammen Society.

Members of The Tammen Society may designate their estate gifts for specific purposes, establish endowments, or specify that their support be directed wherever needed most. The Tammen Society helps the Hospital to provide the best health care for children, following the tradition started by Harry and Agnes Tammen.