Philanthropy
Donor spotlight: glenn and nancy gamble
The Center for the Performing Arts has many supporters, as evidenced by the hundreds of audience members at the center’s presentations. Many of those individuals take their support a step further by becoming a member of the center. Others make an even larger financial contribution and create an endowment or sponsor an event. Glenn and Nancy Gamble do all that, and more.
Dick Durst (left) presents the Center for the Performing Arts’ 2006 Distinguished Service Award to Nancy and Glenn Gamble.David Knauss, graduate assistant in music education, made an appearance as J.S. Bach at the School of Music’s Bach-Around-the-Clock on March 17.
Recognized for both their monetary donations and volunteer efforts, the couple recently created the Glenn and Nancy Gamble Endowment for the Center for the Performing Arts. They were the first individuals to step forward to sponsor an event and have encouraged others to follow their lead. The Gambles, both Penn State alumni, are such avid supporters of the center that they give tours of Eisenhower Auditorium to children and other groups. In addition, Glenn has served two terms on the center’s Community Advisory Council.
In recognition of their longtime support, the Gambles were named co-recipients of the Center for the Performing Arts’ 2006 Distinguished Service Award. “Glenn and Nancy are two of the most gracious, caring people I’ve had the pleasure to meet,” said Dick Durst, former dean of the College of Arts and Architecture, at the awards presentation in April 2006.“They are the epitome of volunteers, always willing to step in and do whatever’s asked—and often before the request is made. They’re so generous with both their time and financial contributions.”
As residents of The Village at Penn State, the Gambles have also helped to get their neighbors involved in the center and are largely responsible for the increase in participation, membership and even sponsorship among Village residents. In addition, they developed ways for the center to connect with the community through their work with the State College not-for-profit Community Academy for Lifelong Learning.
George Trudeau, director of the Center for the Performing Arts, says it has been a privilege to get to know and work with Glenn and Nancy, “two of the center’s most devoted and loyal supporters.” “The Gambles are true pacesetters and have led the way for others. They have set an example through their generous donations, and will have a long-lasting impact on support of the center.” –AMM
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isidor joins college as director of development
The College of Arts and Architecture recently welcomed two new staff members to its development team: Elizabeth Wilson, associate director, and Elizabeth King, assistant director.
Isidor brings eight years of experience in fundraising to the college. After graduating with a master’s degree in education from Eastern Illinois University, he started his development career at Drew University in Madison, N.J., where he served as a development assistant in corporation and foundation relations. In that position, he helped to raise funds for a new center for the arts building. He came to Penn State in 2000 as an associate director of development for the Smeal College of Business and later became director of major gifts for that unit.
He says he is committed to fundraising because of the donors themselves. “I don’t know if all universities are like this, but the alumni from Penn State are really a special group of people,” he notes. During his first few months on the job, he has discovered there are Penn Staters from many different disciplines interested in this college, and he says it is the development staff’s mission to “unlock their passion” for the arts and architecture.
Isidor’s wife, Suzanne, is head coach of the Penn State women’s lacrosse team, and they are the parents of three young sons. If they have some free time, he and Suzanne enjoy movies and outdoor activities. –FWM
spring 2006 endowment luncheon
Endowment benefactor (center) Keith E. Forrest (’69 B.S. EMS) with scholarship recipients Alexandra N. Bainbridge (left) and Thomas A. Woodring. Keith and his wife, Linda, established the Keith E. and LinTrustee Scholarship in the College of Arts and Architecture.
Standing, from left: Krista Feliciani, Janice Piper and Amy Webber (scholarship recipients). Seated, from left: Cory Wallace (scholarship recipient), Harold O’Connor (’52 B.S. Science) and Nancy O’Connor. The O’Connors established the Barbara O’Connor Hawman Career Development Professorship in Music in honor of their daughter, a 1981 Penn State graduate in music performance.
From left: Colleen Thorp, Robert E. Fenza (’80 B.Ph. L.Arch.) and Karen Thorp. Fenza established a scholarship in memory of Charles Thorp, the Charles Thorp Scholarship in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
