NEW ALBANY —
His faith in the idealism and energy of young people helped him win an award from a local university, but he said the real prize will come from the deeds of the youth he hopes to serve.
Jerry Finn, executive director of the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County, was recently named this year’s Indiana University Southeast Distinguished Alumni Award winner. Finn received two undergraduate degrees from IU Southeast, where he said the confidence from staff members helped drive what he does now.
“I had a number of folks who touched my life through my career there at IU Southeast that really helped me realize my strengths and talents, people who believed in me and told me to follow my dreams,” Finn said.
He also serves as the president for the New Albany-Floyd County Education Foundation, is a member of the Governance Council of Youth Count and the Steering Committee of the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana.
Sandra Patterson-Randles, chancellor at IU Southeast, said Finn is a great representative of the university and someone she works with frequently.
“He absolutely epitomizes the type of person that we try to turn out as a graduate,” Patterson-Randles said. “There’s all the details of the boards he’s on, but he’s caring, he’s very engaged and he’s concerned about developing our youth.”
Finn’s service on several boards has helped high school students start philanthropic organizations. He said teaching youth the importance of giving back is not only good for the communities, but also for the children.
“I think we need to realize that young people are such an incredible asset in our community, and they have gifts and talents that our community needs right now,” Finn said. “You are important to our community regardless of how old you are.”
Patterson-Randles said he gives back to his alma mater, but that generosity is spread through the other work he does with various organizations.
“We talk with Jerry about joint things all the time,” Patterson-Randles said. “He’s pretty much a regular in terms of us talking about projects. We get his insights, very often our people in university advancement are dealing with him. I’m very, very comfortable with him and I think everyone here is.
“But it’s not just us, he gives back to everybody.”
Finn said he was overwhelmed to learn he won the award, noting he didn’t feel like he had done anything beyond what others are called to do, but he’s glad to find ways to make a difference in the lives of young people.
“Old folks like me are already set in our ways, but young people have such a passion and idealism about them,” Finn said. “They’re at a point in their life where they feel like they can take on any issue and make a difference. Anything we can do as a community to harness that energy and passion is beneficial to everyone.”
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Jerry Finn, executive director of the Horseshoe Foundation, was this year's recipient of IU Southeast's Distinguished Alumni Award. Finn's involvement with several philanthropic organizations to benefit youth in the area helped him earn the award. Staff photo by Jerod Clapp
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Jerry Finn wins distinguished alumni award
IU Southeast recognizes Horseshoe director for work with youth, philanthropy
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