Young Alumnus Achievement Award
Honors an alumnus' significant contributions to church, vocation, and community.

1999 Recipient
Shelly Johnston Tolo

Johnston Tolo, the Messiah College Alumni Association presents to you the Young Alumnus Achievement Award for serving the Lord through your commitment to your family, church, community, and vocation.

Your fund-raising career actually got its start during your days as a Messiah College student. In addition to serving in a variety of campus leadership roles, you volunteered your time in the Development Office's annual phonathon. As you recall, the evening you received a $10,000 pledge was quite a thrill, and you've been "hooked" ever since.

After graduating from Messiah in 1990, you stayed on at the College as assistant director of annual programs, coordinating several giving programs and leading students and alumni in fund raising efforts. From 1991-1995, you were assistant director of the Washington Hospital Foundation in Washington, Pennsylvania. There you gained further experience in planning and implementing capital campaigns and extraordinary fund-raising events. You also earned your master's in public management from Carnegie Mellon University during that time. Today, as manager of media fund-raising and special events at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, you strategically plan and direct a variety of campaigns and fund-raising efforts. During your five-year tenure, you've assisted the Children's Hospital development office in raising nearly $50 million, all of which benefits children facing serious health issues.

Shelly, there are many in our midst who would find it difficult to work as a fund-raiser. But as you have said, "There aren't many professions that would enable me to help others as much as development does. When organizations... have meaningful missions that positively impact the lives of children and young adults, it is easy to ask others to make an investment to the cause."

When you're not serving as a nonprofit advocate, Shelly, you're serving the Lord in other ways. Active in your church and a devoted wife, aunt, sister and daughter, you've also served your community through several Christian human service organization boards as well as county and state political involvement. In addition, you are currently one of five Allegheny County Coordinators for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum's 2000 Reelection Campaign. And you haven't forgotten your alma mater, either, as you serve on the Messiah College Alumni Council.

Shelly, your vision for helping children and young adults through your work in the development arena fits well with Messiah's mission. Your commitment is exemplary to the sons and daughters of Messiah, both past and future. We celebrate your achievements as we honor you, Shelly Johnston Tolo, with the 1999 Young Alumnus Achievement Award.