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initiatives as singer Bono’s efforts to keep the teaching of traditional Irish music in school curricula, providing home visits from health care professionals to the single elderly, and a program that brings together Protestant and Catholic youth on the basketball court. Both Bono and former U.S. President Bill Clinton have accepted awards from the AIF. Closer to home, the organization has aided victims of Hurricane Sandy and this spring’s Boston Marathon bombing. On the professional front, Patrick is a member of the Security Traders of New York, an association of fnancial-services professionals that, in addition to lobbying on behalf of the industry, creates networking opportunities to help the unemployed fnd jobs.

Patrick credits Skidmore as the place where, among other things, “I really grew up.” He adds, “I made awesome friends with such varied interests and talents. What I love about Skidmore is that it was never about pigeonholing students. Skidmore is about exploration, pushing the limits of academic disciplines, thriving on the court or playing feld or stage, and it always will be. Skidmore has meant so much to me, my sister, and my entire family—the very least I could do is give back as a volunteer.”

He is gratifed to be chosen for the Porter Award. “It’s an incredible honor and very humbling. I just represent the many volunteers who want to help provide the opportunity for a Skidmore education to as many deserving students as possible. I look forward to staying intimately involved with the College in the years ahead.”