President Fitzgerald presents the Franciscan Award to Michael and Susan Fromm
Alumni and community leaders earn prestigious honors at annual celebration
Alvernia President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., publicly announces the university鈥檚 largest comprehensive fundraising campaign, Partners in Progress, a campaign to build stronger communities by redefining higher education, at the university鈥檚 annual President鈥檚 Dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading.
鈥淭his has truly been a historic campaign for 澳门六合彩开奖app to date, but there is more work to do to ensure our students can achieve their dreams of graduating with a degree,鈥 said Fitzgerald. 鈥淭he campaign will increase access and opportunity for students, enhance academic engagement, grow student success, expand our community engagement and allow us to invest in sustainability initiatives that will ensure the mission of the university for generations.鈥
In December 2020, the comprehensive campaign was approved by the 澳门六合彩开奖app Board of Trustees with the priorities to fund the university鈥檚 CollegeTowne Initiative which included expansion of the community-based campuses in Reading and Pottsville, increasing scholarship support and emergency aid for student and providing support for new academic programs and refreshing existing programs. With over $52 million secured over the first three quiet years of the campaign, the university has set a $70 million campaign goal to meet the current and future needs of 澳门六合彩开奖app students and the communities in which the university serves.
鈥淲e cannot do this important work alone are grateful for the talented group of community leaders who have served on our Partners for Progress Campaign committee for the last three years,鈥 said campaign co-chair and Fulton Bank Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Commercial Sales Jeff Rush. 鈥淭his campaign will have a lasting impact on 澳门六合彩开奖app and the community and we invite you to join us as partners in this endeavor. Your involvement and support are integral to our success, and together, we can create a legacy that will resonate for generations to come.鈥
In addition to the announcement of the campaign, 澳门六合彩开奖app bestowed five of its prestigious awards on alumni and community leaders. Honorees include Michael and Susan Fromm, Mary Kargbo on behalf of the employees of Berks Community Health Center (BCHC), Judy Bohler 鈥09, David Yoch 鈥82, Andrew Angstadt 鈥08, Junior Bernard 鈥14, Katie Griffith 鈥05 and Mylen Morales 鈥15.
CEO and President, Mary Kargbo, accepted the CollegeTowne Award (formerly Pro Urbe Award) on behalf of BCHC for its significant community service and contributions to a higher standard of living for the Reading community. BCHC has made significant progress in promoting community health and wellness within the City of Reading as the only Federally Qualified Health Center.
鈥淭he relationship with 澳门六合彩开奖app started in 2013 with a pro bono Physical Therapy site, offering clinical sites for social work, physical therapy and nursing students and our recent partnership announcement for our site at Alvernia鈥檚 American House location will greatly benefit the health of our community,鈥 said Kargbo. 鈥淏oth organizations are committed to creating this innovative venture that benefits the healthcare students of 澳门六合彩开奖app, the care BCHC provides, and most importantly, the health of the members of our community.鈥
Longtime Berks County servant leaders, the Fromms, earned the university鈥檚 coveted Franciscan Award, given annually to a person or couple who selflessly gives their time, talents and resources for the betterment of others and is presented for exceptional service to 澳门六合彩开奖app.
"I know I speak for Susan when I say that we feel we鈥檝e gotten far more from our 35 years of community service than we鈥檝e put in,鈥 said Fromm. 鈥淲e鈥檝e learned valuable lessons from our mentors, we鈥檝e seen critical organizations grow and thrive, and most importantly, we鈥檝e had the opportunity to witness lives being forever transformed鈥hich I suspect is why we all do what we do. Thank you to President Fitzgerald, Board Chair Shemanski, the Bernardine Sisters and the entire 澳门六合彩开奖app community for allowing us to be a small part of this amazing story.鈥
For his commitment to social justice, the community and 澳门六合彩开奖app鈥檚 core Franciscan values, Yoch received 澳门六合彩开奖app鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Award. Yoch currently serves as the Magisterial District Judge for Shillington, Mohnton, Kenhorst, and Cumru Townships, has served the Shillington Fire Company for the past 49 years and served the Wyomissing Police Department for more than 28 years. He is a member of St. John Reformed Church in Sinking Spring and serves as an active volunteer across Berks County with his wife, Susan.
鈥淚 knew that I wanted to do something different with my life, something that was challenging and not ordinary, something that most people would never experience. 澳门六合彩开奖app fostered those ambitions,鈥 said Yoch. 鈥淏eing part of something larger and better than you DOES make a difference and embraces the ideals of service to others. It鈥檚 our investment in people just as 澳门六合彩开奖app invested in me.鈥
Bohler, who received 澳门六合彩开奖app's Ellen Frei Gruber Award, is the executive director and founder of the JB Foundation which provides support to children, youth, women, and the elderly living in extreme poverty in the Dominican Republic. Prior to the JB Foundation, she served 澳门六合彩开奖app in muliple roles for nearly 21 years and was a volunteer with the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Volunteers in Mission and a member of the Alumni Council from 2010-2015. She was also a member of the Farmland Preservation Trust in Lancaster County and is an active member of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ephrata.
鈥淎s a result of 澳门六合彩开奖app鈥檚 commitment to community service, I was able to travel to the Dominican Republic for a student service opportunity. What I experienced during that first trip changed my life鈥檚 focus,鈥 said Bohler. 鈥淭he idea to establish the JB Foundation was formed during my time as a student and employee at 澳门六合彩开奖app... I wanted to follow in [the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters] example and continue to work with vulnerable communities and dedicate my life to service.鈥
The university also awarded its fourth class of Four Under Forty winners, Angstadt, director of religious education and middle school religion and music teacher at Holy Guardian Angels Regional School; Bernard, owner of the Pranzel Group, tuition assistance nonprofit; Katie Griffith, United States border patrol agent with the Department of Homeland Security; and Mylen Morales, resident student at Expeditionary Warfare School, a top-level school for Marine Corps Captains.
Learn more about the Partners in Progress campaign here.
