Our History

Support

AFF continues to support medical education, research, clinical care, and scholarship.

 

Founded in 1968, the AFF has a rich history of support through its activities in the community. Funds raised over the years through the efforts of the AFF have been given in support of programs including:

  • Scholarships for Medical and Graduate Students
  • Department of Nursing Advanced Practice Award and Community Award
  • Humanitarian Award
  • Palliative Care Initiative
  • Zen Den
  • Peace Tree
  • Lion's Share/Lion's Pantry
  • Grants
  • Reach Out and Read - Children's Program (R.O.A.R.)

ZEN DEN

In the 2024-2025 academic year, and in place of the grant application process offered to staff and students at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine, the AFF Board chose to support the Zen Den project. It continues to provide a central space that gives employees permission to briefly disengage from their work and rest, recoup, and recharge.

LION'S SHARE

Lion's Share began in 2002. Lynne Souba, AFF President at the time, was responsible for starting the program. Initially, Lion’s Share was designed to alleviate food insecurity in our community and to support local pantries. Food insecurity defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life, is a national issue that affects millions of Americans. Bins were distributed on campus for collection of food, and all departments were encouraged to participate with their holiday parties.

Today, Lion’s Share continues the same support by means of online monetary donation through Penn State’s secure system. AFF supports students, employees and the community through monetary donations online year-round. Judy Dillon is the AFF coordinator of Lion’s Share. There is a food bin at the College of Medicine year-round to collect non-perishable food items. Lion's Pantry was developed by Ashley Visco, Director of Community Health, and faculty members from the College of Medicine. Lion's Pantry offers mostly non-perishable food items, plus one fruit or vegetable, and helps to address food insecurity affecting many students and employees at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. It is open to students on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month and to employees the 1st Thursday of the month year-round at 922 West Governor Road – Eastmoor Building, Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center campus, Hershey, PA 17033. Any Milton S. Hershey Medical Center student can receive supplemental nutrition support and resources that encourage a well-balanced life.

PEACE TREE

Peace Tree is an annual event that honors a special loved one or person who has touched lives in a special way; donations to which help to fund projects and scholarships.

PALLIATIVE CARE

AFF had a big role in establishing Palliative Care Medicine at Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University in 1996 and has supported this program ever since. AFF members who volunteer for the Palliative Care Initiative committee complete a training program accredited by the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPC ) in addition to the hospital volunteer training program. These volunteers donate their time & energy to help Palliative Care staff, their patients and/or patients’ families.

MEDICAL AND GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Since 1968, the AFF has provided monies for medical student and graduate student education in the form of scholarships. This has been achieved through fundraising efforts and membership dues. The sum of 10% of the annual balance of AFF funds is annually transferred to an endowment fund established in 1968 by the AFF and managed by the College of Medicine. Since 2018, on average, between $7,000 and $10,000 has been donated to these scholarships.

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Penn State School of Medicine holds the distinction of being the first to create a Department of Humanities as part of the medical school. Its focus, to incorporate the humanistic principles of compassion and caring into medical student training.

In 1985, the Doctors Kienle Center for Humanistic Medicine was founded at Penn State through the generosity of Doctors Lawrence and Jane Kienle, to encourage and enhance compassionate medical care through programs and initiatives. The AFF was approached by the center to partner with them in the Third Year Medical Student Humanitarian Award. Since circa 1989, the AFF sponsored the award as part of our annual allocations: The Keinle Center and the AFF each contributed $500 to the $1000 award given annually. The AFF Third Year Medical Student Humanitarian Award was presented by the AFF President at a fall medical student convocation. Last funded in 2020.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD IN NURSING

This award, funded by the Association of Faculty & Friends (AFF), recognizes outstanding commitment to community service by nursing employees of the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.  The recipient will be presented with a recognition certificate and a $500 check to be donated to the community service of his/her choice.  This award recognizes outstanding contributions to community outreach, education, and research.  The nominee is someone who embodies the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s mission and values and strives to improve health through:

  1. Community leadership
  2. Outreach and partnerships with the community
  3. Noteworthy contributions to our community

Last awarded in 2023.

ADVANCED PROVIDER PRACTICE EXCELLENCE AWARD IN NURSING

The Advanced Practice Provider Excellence Award honors an advanced practice provider, selected from a group of Penn State Health Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners, who demonstrates excellence in clinical practice and is a leader in his or her profession. The recognition is given to an advanced practice provider who is dedicated to improving the environment for advanced practice providers in the Penn State Hershey Health Community. The recipient will receive a monetary award of $500.00 funded by the AFF to support an educational or scholarly activity, or to attend a professional conference within one year of receiving the award. 2024 recipient of the Advanced Practice Award was Gladys Baksh, CRNP.

R. O. A. R. (Reach Out and Read)

Children's book donation program. Last supported in 2025.

GRANTS

Grant allocation was discontinued in 2024. Please see below for Grant Allocation History:

2024 Grant Allocation Feedback:

Clinical Care Grant - PSH Music Therapy Adult Functional Music Package
“The Music Therapy Program here at Hershey Medical Center is extremely grateful for grant funds, as it has allowed us to safely put instruments in adult patient’s hands to address pain management, anxiety management, coping and adjusting, and functional activity to name a few treatment areas.”
~ Jan S.
Medical Research Grant: Augmented Reality: Perceptions, Performance, and Language Enhancement (APPLE)
“We study ALS, recognizing that the patients we treat come in with very different needs. For patients that have severely impaired communication, those that can't talk or use their hands to write or type, their ability to have meaningful engagement with loved ones, or even convey their needs, can be devastated. Several options exist for alternative communication tools, and this pilot study explores one more unique and novel way that technology can benefit our patients living with ALS. So far, our study participants have voiced a lot of excitement for the device and using Augmented Reality headsets to help overcome these barriers. And already they are asking about a follow up in-home study to learn more about real-world use cases for this and similar devices.
Thank you again for the AFF's generosity in supporting our research. It means so much to us and our patients to have the interest and backing of the community. Thank you!”
~ James G.
Community Outreach Grant: Beacon Clinic's Healthy Cupboard
“Beacon Clinic for Health and Hope extends our sincere thanks to AFF and Penn State Health (PSH) for the generous grant supporting our Healthy Cupboard. Your support has allowed us to stock our pantry with nutritious healthy food for our patients, many of whom face chronic illness and significant food insecurity. The pantry has made a meaningful difference in their lives, and they are deeply thankful.
We are also excited to share a new development: a partnership with the Penn State College of Medicine SNAP program to provide nutritional education alongside pantry support. This collaboration is amplifying the impact of your gift, helping our patients make informed choices for better health. In addition, the Community Refrigerator from the PSH Community Health team offers patients a healthy snack and drink while they wait for their appointment or medications to be refilled- a small gesture that brings joy.
We are sincerely grateful to AFF and our other dedicated PSH partners for your continued collaboration and commitment for improving health in our community. Together, we are making a lasting impact!”
~ Judy D. and Leesha H.

 

Photos below partly tell the story of the many ways the AFF supports the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine. Through fundraising initiatives, the AFF funds medical research, various "in-house" and community outreach programs, nursing and medical student awards, patient care, and staff wellness, the AFF has been making a big difference since 1968!

(Page updated July 2026.)

Past Grant Allocations

2024 Allocations Collapse

Community Outreach
* Beacon Clinic's Healthy Cupboard

Clinical Care
* PSH Music Therapy Adult Functional Music Package

Medical Research
* Augmented Reality: Perceptions, Performance, and Language Enhancement (APPLE)
* Disparities in Device Use for Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy

Combo of Clinical Care & Community Outreach
* Improving Outcome for Heart Failure Patients Through Medication Optimization & Diet Education

Global Health Research
* Influence of menstrual knowledge, attitude and practice on school absenteeism among adolescent girls in Isiolo sub-county, Kenya

2023 Allocations
2022 Allocations
2021 Allocations
2020 Allocations
2019 Allocations
2018 Allocations
2017 Allocations
2016 Allocations
2015 Allocations
2014 Allocations