September 27, 2008, Chicago, IL — The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) awarded Richard P. Bragga, FAHP, JD, senior consultant for Corporate DevelopMint, the 2008 AHP Harold J. (Si) Seymour International Award. The award recognizes distinguished leadership in Association affairs and in appreciation for having fostered and promoted exemplary standards of excellence for volunteerism and philanthropic support.
Rick Bragga has 35 years of communication/fundraising experience, including 25 years in health care fundraising and eight years nationwide consulting. His education includes a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mass Communication from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law.
Rick’s fundraising experience is extensive and he’s been a key to success in many oversubscribed campaigns. He helped raise $90+ million for an $80 million capital/endowment campaign at a small Baptist college, and directed a five-year, $50+ million campaign for a health system that raised nearly $53 million in just four years.
In addition to his fundraising credentials, Rick is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America and the International Association of Business Communicators. He has served as regional chapter president of both organizations as well as for a chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals. His service to the profession also includes tenure on the Boards of CFRE International and Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), as well as numerous local and international committee assignments and chairmanships.
He won the AHP Journal Professional Papers Competition in 1993 and 2006 and was the co-author of the article that received the AHP Journal First Place Award for 2002 and 2007.
Rick is an experienced, creative professional whose unique perspective and enthusiasm are invaluable resources for the clients he serves. He is an extraordinary strategist and is known for his ability to motivate volunteers with great success.
Created in 1971, the Seymour Award commemorates Si Seymour, who launched his 50-year career in fundraising at Harvard University. During World War II, Seymour raised $321 million for the National War Fund. He later worked for just about every major charity, including the YMCA, YWCA, Salvation Army, Girl Scouts of America, American Cancer Society, and the United Negro College Fund. Seymour also wrote Designs for Fundraising, which is recognized as the bible of the philanthropic profession. Before his death in 1968, he was awarded the Order of the Knights of Sylvester of Pope Paul VI, the highest honor conferred on Protestants by the Catholic Church. It was this most distinguished career in fundraising and development that has led AHP to name its highest award in his honor.
AHP, established in 1967, is a not-for-profit organization whose 4,800+ members manage philanthropic programs in 2,000 of the nation's 3,400 not-for-profit health care providers.