On November 6 at the Alumni Association’s annual Awards and Recognition Dinner, the New York City Chapter, along with the Northern New Jersey Chapter and the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group, were presented with the 2009 Joint Activity Award for its work on the 2009 Hope Gala.

The award is presented to those groups that have distinguished themselves through exceptional program offerings. The award recognizes the collaborative efforts of affiliate groups that most effectively support the mission of the Penn State Alumni Association.

With efforts that began in early 2008, the groups created the Hope Gala to benefit the Penn State Dance Marathon and The Four Diamonds Fund. The inaugural Gala was held in January 2009 and brought together Penn Staters throughout the NYC area for an evening of fine dining, entertainment, and a silent auction at the historic downtown Manhattan venue, Capitale. In total, the evening raised more than $10,000 to help fight pediatric cancer.