This award recognizes individuals or groups who have served as fundraising volunteers, teachers, or mentors while demonstrating exceptional commitment and leadership in building philanthropic support for The Pennsylvania State University.
2012 Fundraising Volunteer of the Year - Robert E. Fenza
Whether he’s sharing his professional experience with Penn State students or sharing his personal enthusiasm with prospective donors, Rob Fenza is a powerful advocate for educational opportunity and for the College of Arts and Architecture. Soon after graduating from the University in 1980 with an intercollegiate degree in landscape architecture and philosophy, he became a managing partner with a real estate investment firm, now known as Liberty Property Trust, where he currently holds the posts of executive vice president and chief operating officer. His success has enabled him, with his wife, Marcy, to create several scholarships for landscape architecture and music students and contribute to other funds across the University, including the Fenza Gaynor Family Endowment for Cancer Research at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute (PSHCI). The Fenzas’ greatest gift to Penn State has been their service as fundraising leaders: Marcy, as a member of the PSHCI development committee, and Rob first as a member of the National Council on Penn State Philanthropy and now as the chair of the College of Arts and Architecture committee in For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students.
Through his leadership, the college has already exceeded its original goal for the campaign, and he continues to build relationships that will benefit Arts and Architecture students in the years to come, hosting events with Marcy in the Philadelphia area and reaching out, formally and informally, to inspire other alumni and friends to support the University. Rob has been honored with a College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Award and holds the lifelong designation of Penn State Alumni fellow. He served as the College of Arts and Architecture’s commencement speaker in 2011, inspiring the college’s newest alumni with his own dedication to Penn State.
Fundraising Volunteers of the Year, 2002 to 2011
2011 - Mr. William A. Jaffe
2010 - Mr. John J. Curley
2009 - Mrs. E. Lee Beard
2008 - Mrs. Jane W. Zimmerman
2007 - Mr. Edward P. Junker III
2006 - Mrs. Helen Skade Hintz
2005 - Mr. Bruce R. Miller
2004 - Mr. David W. Reese
2003 - Mr. Robert Klein and Mrs. Judith Auritt Klein
2002 - Mr. Arthur J. Nagle and Mrs. Paige L. Nagle