Rose Meissner will receive the Henry Ferrettie Memorial Award for 2007 for outstanding public service. The award is given by the Indiana University South Bend Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha. The organization is the national honorary society of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). Members are SPEA alumni.

Meissner is president of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County. With the CFSJC since 1992, she has been instrumental in its growth from a fledgling organization is zero assets to more than $60 million.

Meissner's proactive manner in dealing with problems facing our community has led to creation of the Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence to recognize local charities for outstanding achievements, as well as the African American Fund to more fully integrate this community's African American leaders in fundraising, a program that has drawn national attention.

She was successful in securing a $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to fund "The Early Years Count!," a program to benefit our community's young school-age children. Meissner has served on the boards of directors of a number of organizations including the Memorial Health Foundation, United Way of St. Joseph County, and the Rotary Club of South Bend. She is a member of the Legal and Legislative Action Team of the Council on Foundations.

The Henry Ferrettie Memorial Award is presented annually to a community member who exemplifies the highest standards in public service. The award was established by T. Brooks Brademas in 1985 in honor of the late St. Joseph County Commissioner Henry Ferrettie, in recognition of his standard of excellence throughout his many years of public service. Past award recipients include Evie Kirkwood of the St. Joseph County Parks Department, Jon Hunt, former Director of the South Bend Department of Community and Economic Development, and REAL Services Director Lester Fox.

Meissner’s award will be presented at a SPEA honors luncheon on May 16.