May 1, 2002

SMU RECOGNIZES DEDMAN LAW EMPLOYEE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

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DALLAS (SMU) -- Dedman School of Law Major Gifts Officer Patricia Logsdon has received the 2002 Outstanding Faculty/Staff Volunteer Award from the SMU Office of Community Involvement.

Each year SMU bestows the award on an employee who has demonstrated exemplary and consistent community service outside the university. Logsdon received her award at a campus ceremony Monday, April 22.

“Patricia does wonderful work, particularly with children. She richly deserves this award,” said John Attanasio, dean of the SMU Dedman School of Law and the William Hawley Atwell Chair in Constitutional Law.

Logsdon was recognized for her work with three organizations. At Robert E. Lee Elementary School in east Dallas, Logsdon has organized several initiatives on behalf of the students. She has volunteered at least 150 hours and collected more than $33,000 to purchase food, eye glasses, school supplies, winter coats and uniforms, among other things, for students. In addition, she conducted a book drive to supply every Lee student with a book; secured a local sponsor, the advertising firm BrannForbes, to participate in an Angel Tree program for more than 150 kids; and has helped individual families at the school with holiday groceries and gifts.

She also drives a route in the Fair Park area for the Visiting Nurse Association’s Meals On Wheels program, which distributes hot meals to home-bound sick and elderly residents. While doing so, Logsdon organized her own food drive to provide patrons with nonperishable items and other necessities, including biscuits for the neighborhood stray dogs. Logsdon also volunteers with Catholic Charities to enroll her Meals on Wheels patrons in a program that distributes a monthly bag of free groceries.

In her job as major gifts officer at Dedman School of Law, Logsdon, a 1991 graduate of the school, recently helped the law school complete a five-year capital campaign that raised more than $50 million, surpassing its original goal of $18 million.