INDIANAPOLIS—The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University will honor Marcela Orvañanos de Rovzar with the Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fundraising, the Center's most prestigious award, at a dinner ceremony Thursday, November 13, in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Rosso Medal recognizes lifelong dedication to emphasizing philanthropy's ethics and values, acting as a mentor to perpetuate and invigorate philanthropic traditions, and noted leadership in a long, productive career of distinction.

Rovzar is a recognized and respected international leader. A Mexican philanthropist, she has founded several successful nonprofit human service and community development organizations in Mexico and New York City, and served as director of public relations for the presidential campaign of Mexican President Felipe Calderón.

A distinguished expert on fundraising and developing resources for nonprofit organizations, Rovzar is improving philanthropy in Mexico and abroad. She founded Procura A.C. in 1995, a training institute that gives fundraisers and other nonprofit professionals the skills needed to increase their organizations’ impact, efficiency and effectiveness. Located in Mexico City, Procura has trained more than 12,000 people from approximately 3000 organizations and partners with the The Fund Raising School at the Center on Philanthropy.

"Marcela Rovzar has played a dynamic role in the professionalization of ethical and effective fundraising practices in Mexico and the United States," said Timothy L. Seiler, director of public service and The Fund Raising School at the Center on Philanthropy. "Her determination and life of service have transformed philanthropy and have strengthened communities."

Since 1990, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University has presented this annual award to exceptional individuals. The Rosso Medal was created to honor Henry A. "Hank" Rosso (1917-1999), a founder of the Center on Philanthropy and founding director of The Fund Raising School at the Center. Rosso received the inaugural medal for establishing The Fund Raising School, which enables fundraising professionals to learn to do ethical philanthropic fundraising, and for creating concepts of discipline and dignity in the profession. Other past honorees include Indiana University Chancellor Herman B Wells, University of Notre Dame President Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., and national fundraising firm executives George A. Brakeley and Donald A. Campbell, Jr.

Having served as president of the UNICEF México advisory board, Rovzar was also nominated for the Eisenhower Fellowship award, and was a finalist for AVON's Sacil Award for women in business. She recently founded the Qualitas of Life Foundation, a financial literacy educational organization that seeks to enhance the quality of life of Mexican immigrants living in New York City, and the Fondo de Estrategia Social A.C. (Strategic Social Fund, FES), an organization created with the goal of investing private economic resources from the Mexico City community in social causes.

"Marcela Rovzar's leadership, professionalism, and volunteerism have increased the vital impact of countless organizations in the nonprofit, government and business sectors, including the Center on Philanthropy," said Patrick Rooney, interim executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Rovzar founded the consulting firm Fondea Asesorías S.C., which focuses on developing projects with social impact for various clients from public, private, national and international entities. Her clients have included the Secretary of Social Development and the Secretary of Public Education in Mexico.

A Senior Fellow at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), Rovzar is also a member of The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW) of the Rockefeller Foundation. She holds a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from The Fund Raising School at the Center on Philanthropy and a Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.

About the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University is a leading academic center dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy and improving its practice worldwide through research, teaching, public service and public affairs programs in philanthropy, fundraising, and management of nonprofit organizations.

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