Congratulations! It is our distinct honor to congratulate all of the 2008 NIC Foundations Seminar award winners. Please click on one of the links below to view all of our 2008 winners and thank you for making the 2008 Foundations Seminar a success. Philanthropist Of The Year Outstanding Philanthropist Award Diane Spry Straker Diane Straker, Alpha Phi from Reston, Virginia, is recognized for contributing the largest gift from a living individual ever received by Alpha Phi Foundation. Diane’s gift kicked-off Alpha Phi’s new “$10 million by 2010” campaign, which raised over $4.5 million in the silent phase. This initial gift spurred other Foundation and Fraternity board members to make transformational gifts. Diane’s quiet contributions to many national and local non-profit groups, as well as her support of NPC’s scholarship program, make her an ideal recipient of this award. She lives her philosophy: that volunteers need to contribute both time and treasure to the organization they work for, and her own personal goal: that she help ease the paths of others not as fortunate as she. Diane served in many officer levels at Alpha Phi – both for the Fraternity, Housing Corporation Board, and now as secretary of the Foundation. She is a volunteer for Alpha Phi’s campaign and travels throughout the U.S. to secure gifts from other individuals. Click to hear from Diane. Outstanding Volunteer Of The Year Outstanding Volunteer Award Susan Barrick Susan Barrick, Alpha Phi from Gainesville, FL, is a 15-year volunteer and chair of the Alpha Phi Foundation for the past four years. She is the lead fundraising volunteer for the Foundation's “$10 million by 2010” campaign, which – in the silent phase – raised over $4.5 million. Susan began her fundraising for Alpha Phi as a phonathon volunteer and developed her skills to become part of the Foundation fundraising team. Susan helped build the Foundation’s “Hearts of Gold Society,” contributors of $5,000 or more annually, from three donors to 50 in less than two years. Her skillful leadership abilities and extensive knowledge of the Foundation and the fundraising field are largely responsible for the success of Alpha Phi’s new campaign. Click to hear from Susan. William D. Jenkins Outstanding Professional Of The Year William D. Jenkins Outstanding Professional Of The Year Kathie Garland Our last award recognizes an individual foundation professional who is a leader in the field and who practices his or her profession in an exemplary manner. The William D. Jenkins Outstanding Foundation Professional award is presented annually by the NICF to a professional that embodies the high ideals and commitment to the industry of William D. Jenkins. Our award winner has had a long and distinguished career in the interfraternal foundation world. Having served as the executive director of two foundations this individual was instrumental in the tremendous growth enjoyed by both groups. She has been involved in several large scale development projects, served as a mentor to countless new professionals and has been a fixture in this community for nearly 20 years. Her experience and dedication to excellence in her profession is extremely evident. She brings to her work a knowledge base and innovative mindset that continues to raise the bar in the field. She truly believes in taking her fundraising skills and knowledge and using them for the service of others in need. One nominator stated “that her commitment to philanthropic service is an ideal that has long been instilled in the Greek community.” Her dedication to her profession and her constituents is unmatched. One nominator stated that “it is a treasure to work with this individual…she is a leader of leaders who not only effectively leads her own organization, but sets the pace for leaders of from all Greek organizations to model. The awards committee agreed wholeheartedly with that statement. Click to hear from Kathie.