SUNY Fredonia President Virginia Horvath, left, joins the 2013 Fredonia College Foundation Distinguished Service Award honorees, from left, Peter Tucker, President, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation; Dr. J. Brien Murphy, '53, '56, a retired member of the college鈥檚 Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education; Dianne Hannum, Executive Director, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation; and Michael Schiavone, '78, senior partner with the law firm Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP.
The Distinguished Service Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Fredonia College Foundation, was presented to three deserving honorees at a special dinner/dance held on Saturday, May 11, at the Williams Center at SUNY Fredonia.
Alumni Dr. J. Brien Murphy, 鈥53, 鈥56, and Michael Schiavone, 鈥78, along with the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, were each honored with the bi-annual award which recognizes citizens and organizations that make significant contributions to society through business, government, education and the arts. The event鈥檚 proceeds were once again directed to SUNY Fredonia鈥檚 Keeper of the Dream Scholarship and Leadership Program.
The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation was selected because of its work as a leader in funding charitable causes and efforts of Northern Chautauqua County. For over 27 years, this organization has improved the community through the promotion of local philanthropy, strategic grant making and community leadership. It has directed over $8.8 million in support funding across the region since 1986, and currently maintains more than 360 endowment funds. President Peter Clark and Executive Director Diane Hannum accepted the award on behalf of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.
Dr. Murphy鈥檚 career included 38 years among the faculty of SUNY Fredonia and the Campus School, serving as chair of the elementary and early childhood education department, and coordinator of graduate studies. In addition, he served on the board of the Fredonia College Foundation for over 30 years, including as its secretary from 1986 to 2005. He also served as president of the Fredonia Alumni Association, chair of the Fredonia Faculty Council, and vice president of the Fredonia Emeritus Faculty and Staff Association.
He has also served the community in many ways outside of the college, including as secretary of the Hillman Memorial Music Association, president of the Dunkirk Free Library, treasurer of Troop 257 of the Chautauqua County Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a director of the Chautauqua County Agricultural Association and the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County.
Mr. Schiavone, a senior partner of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP since 1987, has enjoyed a distinguished 30-year career in the legal profession. He has served as chairman of his firm鈥檚 Business Department, as well as a member of its Management Committee since 1988. He has been named to the Best Lawyers in America in Corporate Law; Super Lawyers in Business and Corporate/Sports Law; Business First/Buffalo Law Journal鈥檚 Who鈥檚 Who in Law, and has received the AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating for Legal Ability and Ethical Standards.
His service to SUNY Fredonia has included serving on the board of the Fredonia College Foundation as a member since 2004, including as its chair from 2010 and 2011. Additionally, he serves on the School of Business Advisory Council. He was a key contributor in helping to bring the foundation鈥檚 recent $15 million 鈥淒oors to Success鈥 capital campaign to a successful close, and he and his wife, Cheryl, have established the Schiavone Family Endowment to generate scholarships through the Fredonia College Foundation.
All three recipients were congratulated and presented with their awards by SUNY Fredonia President Virginia S. Horvath, on behalf of current Fredonia College Foundation Board Chair Debra Horn Stachura, 鈥75, Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director David M. Tiffany, and the rest of the board of the foundation.
The mission of the Fredonia College Foundation is to promote, advance and support the activities and programs of SUNY Fredonia. In doing so, the foundation administers resources and supervises the investment of philanthropic funds and other revenues for the university.
Incorporated in 1964, the foundation was established to accept financial contributions, hold and invest endowment accounts, and award grants to strengthen the educational programs of SUNY Fredonia. It is a not-for-profit corporation separate from the university that exists solely for the benefit of the school. A volunteer board of directors oversees its activities, and all contributions to the foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Gifts to the foundation from alumni, employees, parents, foundations, corporations, businesses, and friends support SUNY Fredonia鈥檚 most critical programs: scholarships, research, international study, internships, externships, academic departments, athletics and more. These are the programs that define the educational experience at SUNY Fredonia that transform students鈥 lives.
