WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderPhilanthropy Award Winners Announced

Philanthropy Award Winners Announced

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By Jeannie Hayes

ROCKFORD - This year's Philanthropy awards went to six individuals and two foundations.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals honored people and groups who go out of their way to help the community or the world as part of National Philanthropy Day.

2008 AFP Rockford Chapter NPD Award Recipients:

Outstanding Philanthropists - Anne and Norm Meyer

Anne and Norm Meyer quietly demonstrate the real meaning of philanthropy as a way of life. Their volunteer leadership and commitment has been an inspiration to others and a catalyst in changing the landscape of our community, both literally and figuratively. Whether restoring natural habitats, working to relocate and rehabilitate historic barns, mentoring youth, or flipping pancakes with the Downtown Kiwanis, Anne and Norm shine with the warm light of a generous spirit.

Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer - Jane Smith

Jane's volunteer efforts in fundraising are extraordinary! For the past two decades, Jane has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills coordinating major fundraising events and motivating groups of fundraising volunteers for the benefit of a wide range of charitable organizations. Her work has generated funding for the arts, healthcare, children with disabilities, those who were victims of familial sexual assault, grade school and high school students, and homeless adults.

Outstanding Community Service Volunteer - Armer Severin

Armer Severin has volunteered thousands of hours to community organizations including: Discovery Center Museum, Midway Village and Museum Center, Erlander Home Museum, Crusader Clinic, Northern Illinois Hospice, Tebala Shrine, Rock Valley College Veterans' Memorial Hall, and Swedish Council of America. He has contributed his talents, manual labor and financial support to make the community a better place for all.

Outstanding Young Philanthropist - Ben Dixon

Ben graduated two years early from Northern Illinois University with a degree in marketing and an entrepreneur's spirit and drive. He has used those skills to create businesses and in 2008 became a Gold Sponsor for the Hike for Life, raising $2,500. Prior to that, Ben regularly won the contest for collecting the most walk pledges. In 2006, he raised $4,665.

Outstanding Young Fundraising Volunteer - Stephanie Baliga

After her freshman year at the University of Illinois, Champaign, Stephanie embraced a meaningful, unpaid internship to raise money for Severson Dells while furthering their mission to connect more people to nature. She founded The Hall Creek Scamper, the "green" run/walk that raised $15,400 through her 400 hours of volunteer work over two summers. Her fundraising efforts resulted in increased program dollars and a raised public profile for Severson Dells.

Outstanding Family Foundation - Gloyd Family Foundation

Through the Gloyd Family Foundation and the dedication and commitment of individual members of the Gloyd family, the greater Rockford community has benefitted wholly by their unprecedented philanthropic leadership. Through devotion, generosity and genuine caring, Larry Gloyd - now gone but never forgotten- Del Gloyd, and their daughters Julie, Sherry, Susan and their families, inspire others by their example and stand as a pillar in the Rockford community.

Outstanding Corporate Foundation - SwedishAmerican Medical Foundation

Once in awhile, an organization steps outside itself, sees a community challenge and elects to make that challenge their own responsibility. SwedishAmerican Medical Foundation is such an organization. It assessed the neighborhood of SwedishAmerican Hospital and vowed to "change the reality" by proactively creating programs to radically impact the lives of people and the real estate in a historic portion of our community. Through strong community partnerships they have reinvigorated and transformed this neighborhood.