Fordham University was honored with a Community Service Award at the Fourth Annual Community Partnership Luncheon of the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, on March 15. Held in Tarrytown, N.Y., the event honored dedicated individuals and business friends who, through community service and support, have made an impact on the lives of girls. Funds for Girl Scout camps and other activities were raised through a silent auction at the event, which had the theme of "The Power of the Promise."Michael Gillan, Ph.D., associate vice president for the Westchester campus, accepted the award on behalf of the University. “When we opened our new campus at 400 Westchester Ave. (in West Harrison), we were committed not just to providing first rate degree programs, but also to deepening and extending our roots and connections with important organizations in the community,” Gillan said. “What more important and fitting group than Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson? Fordham’s core commitment is not just educational excellence for its own sake, but as our Jesuits say, education for the formation of ‘men and women for others,’ something that is consistent with the Girl Scouts’ promise.”Gillan thanked the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson board and staff and praised those “most responsible for bringing this award about,” such as Lynne O’Connell, assistant dean of admissions for Fordham College of Liberal Studies, who initiated the relationship between the University and the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, and Mary Kate Donato, program associate for Fordham’s Executive MBA (EMBA) programs, and Francis Petit, Ed.D., associate dean for the EMBA programs, who led a Girl Scouts “Cookie Institute,” an entrepreneurial training workshop for Girl Scouts from the Heart of the Hudson Council, in November.
The Cookie Institute was the first event under a new partnership between Fordham and the Heart of the Hudson Council. Future events, such as a Career Day, are in the works.“We are looking forward to many more collaborations in years to come and to being at the very least, a semi-finalist for this award each and every year,” Gillan said.TD Bank was also honored by Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson with a Leadership Award. The Humanitarian Award was presented to the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson Archives Committee.