Misericordia University regularly pays tribute to its most generous benefactors at an annual gathering, the Trustee Associates Gala. The event honors all benefactors of $1,000 and above for their support of the university’s mission.

Among those we honor are our

Lifetime Honorary Associates

And members of our Giving Societies

Mercy Society

Mother Mary Catharine McGann Society

Medallion Society

Cougar Society

Sr. Mary Annunciata Merrick Society

Founders Society

Fellow Associates

1924 Society

Trustee Associates

We also recognize the members of the Heart of Mercy Society, those who have thoughtfully included Misericordia University in their planned giving, such as a will, bequest, or insurance designation.

Among the highlights of the evening is the awarding of the Trustee Associates Award. Considered among Misericordia’s highest honors, the Trustee Associates Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptionally loyal commitment, dedication, and service to the University. It is a competitive award and great care is taken by the Board of Trustees in making the prestigious selection.

Misericordia University celebrated an inspiring evening of gratitude, generosity, and Mercy at its annual Trustee Associates Gala, held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Westmoreland Club’s Grand Hall. The elegant event brought together alumni, benefactors, and friends of the University to honor those whose compassion and commitment continue to advance Misericordia’s mission of academic excellence, service, and mercy. This year’s honorees included Dorothy Dickson Darling, recipient of the Trustee Associates Award; Rosemary Dvorsky Gido, Ph.D. ’67, recipient of the Mercy Mission Medal; and The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation, recipient of the Founders Medal.

Download the 2025 Trustee Associates Gala Program

Misericordia University President Daniel J. Myers, Ph.D., welcomed guests and opened the program with words of appreciation and pride. Reflecting on his fifth year as the University’s 15th president, Dr. Myers spoke of the “extraordinary generosity” that has sustained Misericordia through its first 101 years. He shared that the University recently welcomed its second-largest first-year class in history—a milestone he credited to the benefactors and alumni whose support “helps Misericordia transform lives through the power of Mercy higher education.” Drawing laughter from the audience, he compared the energy of today’s growing student body to the record-setting class of 2012, noting the same sense of excitement and promise on campus this fall. Dr. Myers also expressed his gratitude to the Sisters of Mercy, calling them “both inspirations and friends,” and recognizing their enduring mission as the foundation of Misericordia’s identity.

The evening included a heartfelt invocation from Sister Mary Ann Dillon, RSM, Ph.D. ’68, who reminded guests that “God is Generosity,” expressing gratitude for the many ways that the Misericordia community embodies that divine generosity.

Guests then enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and live jazz music performed by The Westmoreland Club Jazz Quartet as they reflected on the enduring values of Mercy and service that define the University’s spirit.

Throughout the evening, the themes of gratitude, generosity, and faith resonated through every word and gesture. “That generosity allows the Heart of Mercy—Misericordia—to flourish,” Sister Mary Ann Dillon said in her blessing, capturing the spirit that permeated the event. As Dr. Myers noted in closing, the Gala not only honors those who give, but also “reminds us that every act of generosity, large or small, strengthens the Mercy mission we carry forward together.”

The 2025 Trustee Associates Gala once again served as a reminder of Misericordia University’s deep-rooted commitment to honoring those whose leadership and philanthropy sustain its mission of education and Mercy-inspired service.