November 17, 1998
DIXONS RECOGNIZED AS ‘PHILANTHROPISTS OF THE YEAR’
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., and his wife, Edith Robb Dixon, have been recognized as “Philanthropists of the Year” by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives.
Mr. Dixon is chairman of the State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors and has served as chairman or board member of numerous other schools, universities, hospitals and cultural organizations. Mrs. Dixon also has served on the boards of various organizations in southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as in Maine and Florida.
The Dixons received special recognition from the State System of Higher Education, Widener University, Cabrini College, The Episcopal Academy and Abington Memorial Hospital in their nomination for the prestigious award.
“We have been extraordinarily fortunate to have had the wherewithal to help others,” said Mr. Dixon upon accepting the award at the 13th annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon held recently in Philadelphia.
“I have enjoyed working with people and seeing things blossom,” Mr. Dixon said. “Every day, we try to do something for somebody else.”
In addition to providing philanthropic support, the Dixons have contributed thousands of hours of their time to helping others.
Mr. Dixon is president of the Fairmount Park Commission, which oversees the nation’s largest urban park. He also is chairman of Widener University’s Board of Trustees and has served on the boards of Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as the chairman of the State System’s Board of Governors since the System’s creation in 1983.
He was the recipient earlier this year of the Eberly Medal for Philanthropy and Volunteerism presented by the Fund for the Advancement of the State System of Higher Education Inc. The first Eberly awards were presented in October to 30 individuals, corporations and foundations for their outstanding contributions to the State System.
The State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Nearly 350,000 State System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers.