Service Award
2008 Patti N. Choate Distinguished Service Award
Patti N. Choate was a valued and respected development officer at Weber State University when she passed away in l 995, following a valiant fight against breast cancer. Patti was active in community affairs, serving with the Ogden/Weber Women in Management committee, the American Cancer Society, the Consortium for Utah Women in Higher Education, and USFR, where she served as Vice President of Programs. In January of 1994 at the height of her battle with cancer, Patti was quoted as saying, “With this many people looking out for you, you know that whatever happens, things will be all right.” Patti showed everyone the meaning of courage, dignity, grace, and love. In recognition of her profound legacy, the Utah Society of Fund Raisers was proud to memorialize Patti with the highest honor it bestows: the Path N. Choate Distinguished Service Award. Recognizing lifetime achievement in the fund-raising profession, USFR grants this honor to an individual based on his or her success and longevity in fund raising and service to USFR and the fund-raising community.
About Arthur J. Swindle, J.D.
Arthur J. “Art” Swindle, currently serves as Executive Director of Development for the University of Utah Orthopedic Center. In this role he continues to work in major gifts and planned gift fund raising: He graduated from the University of Utah with-a bachelor of science degree in political science (1957), and a juris Doctorate (1970). After law school, he entered..,the military, joining the U.S. Army JAG Corps for five years. In 1978, Art re-turned to Salt Lake City and began working at the University of Utah Central Development Office as the Director of Planned Giving. After eight years, he created the Health Sciences Development Office, which was at that time a two-person office. He was Executive Director for twenty years and has been part of the foundation upon which the remarkable success in health sciences arose. Art loves his work and finds it immensely gratifying to help patients and families dealing with illness or injury. He has had an illustrious, thirty-year career in development and deeply enjoys his relationships with his colleagues and donors. Attorneys, trust officers, and civic leaders have noted with amazement how broad his span of influence is throughout the community. He is a member of UPGRT and the Salt Lake Rotary Club, and is a founding member and past President of USFR. Art’s selflessness is legendary. Although he has helped raise over $100 million in endowed chairs alone, and countless other monies for scholarships, lectureships, research endowments, and buildings, his distinguished service cannot be reduced to dollar figures. He is the consummate relationship builder and the author and exemplar of stewardship at its finest. His notable career is an outstanding example of the lifetime achievement that the Patti N. Choate Distinguished Service Award recognizes.
