Philanthropists receive IU awards

Five individuals were recognized as this year’s “Partners in Philanthropy” by IU and the IU Foundation for their volunteer work.

The three awards ­— the Cornerstone, Keystone and Herman B Wells Visionary Awards — were presented by IU President Michael McRobbie and IU Foundation President Gene Tempel.

Mark Hill received the Cornerstone Award for his dedication to the School of Informatics and Computing since it opened in 2000.

“My work has involved fundraising, helping set direction, helping with curriculum as an adjunct professor teaching a course and helping with placement of students,” Hill said.

“It was particularly satisfying for my mother to see me honored in such a great setting.”

Hill’s leadership played an integral role in the 919 E. 10th Street Renovation Fund, which helped renovate the Informatics East building. Hill was also a founding member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and served as its chair.

This year’s Keystone Award was presented to Monika and Peter Kroener and to Robert Borns for their volunteer leadership in several fundraising campaigns.

The Kroeners were founding members of the Jacobs School of Music Dean’s Advisory Board and are on the Kelley School of Business Dean’s Council.

They also established the Monika and Peter Kroener Dean’s International Fellowship in Music and Business, which benefits graduate students in those programs.

“(My husband and I) received the award with sincere gratitude for all that the University has provided to us since we arrived as foreign students many years ago,” Monika said. “The award is an inspiration to us to give back and inspire others.”

Borns received the Keystone Award for his work with IU’s Jewish studies program. The Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program gives scholarships to students and provides funding for faculty research, conferences and guest speakers.

Borns also created the Friends of Jewish Studies Program group.

James Morris received the Herman B Wells Visionary Award.

Morris, a 1965 IU alumnus, is currently the president of Pacers Sports and Entertainment and has helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the IU School of Medicine.

He supported the School of Medicine’s program to fight the spread of AIDS in Kenya and served as executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme for five years.

Recently, Morris was co-chair of the Matching the Promise campaign for IU, which raised more than $1 billion.

“Herman Wells is one of the great, few Hoosiers of the last 100 years,” Morris said. “His legacy benefits and touches every single Hoosier every day. I feel honored to receive an award named for him.”