Lombardos Receive Eckert Philanthropic Award

The annual presentation of the Susan and Gerald Eckert Philanthropic Service Endowment Award was held on Oct. 30. This year, it was awarded to Dr. Samuel N. Lombardo '07H and Dena M. Lombardo.

The endowment award is selected based on exemplary service and philanthropy in advancing the mission of public higher education. Innovative ideas or practices assisting public higher education are considered part of the selection criteria. "Our objectives were to appropriately recognize the impact of those giving of their time and treasure that improves the human condition and our community," says Gerald Eckert.

As a part of the recognition, the Lombardos will choose a University program to receive the annual spendable income from the endowment. The Lombardos join the small group of previous recipients who have achieved this award.

The Lombardos are members of MU's Fiat Lux Society, a giving society at Millersville University that recognizes generous donors who have contributed to the institution. Each member of the society gained their status by pledging $1 million or more to the University.

The Lombardos have played a significant role in some of the University's facilities including the zero-energy Lombardo Welcome Center and for helping fund the upcoming transformation of Brooks Hall into the Lombardo College of Business. Samuel Lombardo is the founder, former CEO and chairman emeritus of The Benecon Group, founder of ConnectCare3 and is the owner of Lombardo's Restaurant, his Italian American family restaurant in Lancaster.

Past recipients of the award include:

2023 - Karen Ashkar Murley '63

2022 - Lois Todd Morgan '54, M. Diane Koken '72, '08LHD, John K. Herr III

2019 - Robert M. Krasne, Hale A. Krasne

2018 - Robert L. Shoener, Alan K. Wyand

2017 - James D. Hagelgans, Esq., Gale Zorian-Hagelgans

2016 - Rick Rodgers, Jessica L. Rodgers

More about the Lombardos and the Fiat Lux Society can be found here.