AFP Leaders Lewis, Pierpont Earn Rosso Medal for Achievement in Ethical Fundraising

 
  AFP news & press releases
  Dec. 10, 2007

Patricia Lewis, ACFRE, who served previously as president and chief executive officer of AFP in the 1990s, and Robert Pierpont, CFRE, a long-time member of the association, were honored on Nov. 4 with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University's Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fund Raising.

The Rosso Medal was created to honor Henry A. “Hank” Rosso (1917-1999), a founder of the Center on Philanthropy and founding director of its public service program, The Fund Raising School. Past honorees include Indiana University Chancellor Herman B Wells, University of Notre Dame President Theodore M. Hesburgh, and national fund raising firm executives George A. Brakeley and Donald A. Campbell, Jr. 

“This year's recipients epitomize the essence of the Rosso Medal, given to those with a long tradition of philanthropic leadership,” said Eugene R. Tempel, Ed.D., CFRE, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy. “It honors dedication to emphasizing philanthropy's ethics and values, acting as a mentor to perpetuate and invigorate philanthropic traditions, and long, productive careers of distinction.” 

Lewis has served the fundraising profession for over thirty years, including seven years as president and CEO of AFP, from 1991 - 1998. She is currently senior professional-in-residence at the Arizona State University Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management in Tempe, Ariz., where she leads the center's “first-responder” program, providing assistance to those with questions on starting, managing and operating a nonprofit.  She travels the globe as a lecturer on nonprofit governance, fund raising, strategic planning, association management and strengthening of the nongovernmental sector. Her civic engagement includes service as treasurer on the AARP Foundation board, and as a member or officer on the boards of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, the Women's Philanthropy Institute, and the Sun Health Medical System Foundation.

Pierpont is a fundraising consultant in Bonita Springs, Fla. He helped form the Delaware Valley Chapter, which became the Greater Philadelphia Chapter. He was a founding director of the NSFRE Foundation, and was the first chair of the NSFRE Certification Board. He was also the first donor to make a planned gift to the foundation, the Pierpont/Welde Research Library Endowment Fund of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy. The AFP Affiliate Library program, a collection of 36 books in 62 public libraries, university libraries and nonprofit resource centers throughout North America, is now named in his family's honor.

“We're so thrilled that such long-time supporters and leaders of AFP have been honored with the prestigious Henry Rosso medal,” said Paulette V. Maehara, CFRE, CAE, president and CEO of AFP. “I give my congratulations to both Pat and Bob for this extraordinary honor, as well as my thanks for everything they have done for fundraising and for AFP.”