University Park, Pa. -- State College resident Robert W. Potter, president of the Centre County Community Foundation, will be honored as the 2004 Renaissance Person of the Year at the 28th annual Renaissance Scholarship Fund dinner, according to Patricia Farrell, president of the Renaissance Fund board of directors.
The annual dinner raises funds for Renaissance Scholarships, which are awarded to academically talented Penn State students who have the greatest financial need. Each dinner honors a local leader or leaders in the community, and contributions are used to endow scholarships in the honoree's name.
This year's event will be held Thursday, Nov. 18, at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus, with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Since the Renaissance Fund's inception in 1969, more than $5 million in scholarship awards has been contributed. During the 2003-04 academic year, about $521,000 in scholarships was awarded to 436 Renaissance scholars.
"Our wider community is a better place in special ways because of the tireless contributions of Bob Potter," said Farrell. "He brings to service organizations a unique serving of fun, commitment and solid accomplishment."
Potter is well-known in the community for his extensive involvement with the Centre County Community Foundation, an organization that currently oversees 140 charitable funds created to provide endowment support for the widest possible range of Centre County not-for-profit organizations and programs. Potter served two terms as a member of the board before he sold his business in 2000 to become the foundation's first full-time president. One of his initiatives is the Campbell Society, intended to encourage and honor those who make planned gifts to the foundation.
A Homer, N.Y., native, Potter received his baccalaureate degree in journalism from Cornell University in 1969. After graduation, he accepted a job with the Stewart Howe Alumni Service, a private company specializing in alumni development for fraternities and sororities. In 1970, he opened a branch office in State College. He then travelled to Europe and worked in Australia for a number of years, and in 1977 he came back to State College and settled down for good.
In 1978, Potter became a member of the publicity committee for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. He was soon elected to the festival board and then became CPFA board president for 1982 and 1983.
Over the years, Potter has served in leadership positions with many other local cultural, historical and philanthropic organizations, including as president of the Nittany Valley Symphony, treasurer of Schlow Memorial Library, and president of both the Boalsburg Village Conservancy and the Boalsburg Heritage Museum. He also served as chair of the 1995 United Way of Centre County campaign.
He has been recognized by Pennsylvania Business Central magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Citizens in Central Pennsylvania, and as the 2002 Not-for-Profit Entrepreneur of the Year.
For Renaissance Dinner information, or to make a contribution to the Renaissance Fund, contact Kathy Kurtz in the Office of Annual Giving at (814) 863-2052.