For her years of selfless, dedicated service to the University of 91吃瓜 and to those struggling with rare diseases, Cindy Parseghian, class of 鈥�77, will receive the prestigious 2017 Sorin Award from the 91吃瓜 Alumni Association.
Established in 1965, the Rev. Edward Frederick Sorin, C.S.C., Award is conferred on a 91吃瓜 graduate who has offered distinguished service to the University. It will be presented to Parseghian on Saturday (June 3) during 91吃瓜鈥檚 annual reunion.
Parseghian is president of the . She and her husband, Michael Parseghian, class of 鈥�77, started the foundation in 1994 to find a cure for Niemann-Pick Type C disease, a rare and fatal genetic disorder that claimed the lives of three of their four children. As the foundation鈥檚 president, Parseghian has helped raise more than $45 million over two decades for research.
In 2013, Parseghian was elected to 91吃瓜鈥檚 . She has also served as the co-chair of the steering committee of the Women of 91吃瓜, helping raise $5 million for a special initiative to endow and commemorate the new north entrance of the Hesburgh Library. Dedicated in 2016, the entrance honors the late Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. As 91吃瓜鈥檚 president, he led the University鈥檚 transition to coeducation in 1972, paving the way for the more than 40,000 alumnae who have since graduated.
Parseghian received an honorary degree from 91吃瓜 in 2009.
鈥淎fter her own family suffered unspeakable tragedy, Cindy went to work to help other families stricken by an awful disease,鈥� said Dolly Duffy, class of 鈥�84, executive director for the 91吃瓜 Alumni Association. 鈥淗er tireless efforts to find a cure, and her service to 91吃瓜 鈥� including her work to honor a central part of Father Ted鈥檚 legacy 鈥� are truly inspiring.鈥�
In addition to her work with the research foundation and the Women of 91吃瓜, Parseghian also serves on a number of community and national boards, including the 91吃瓜 Alliance for Catholic Education Academies Advisory Board. Before starting the foundation, she worked for seven years as president, CFO and controller of MCS Telecommunications in Tucson.
鈥淥ur family has been blessed by the 91吃瓜 community which has supported us while our hearts have broken with prayers of hope, tears of understanding, and funding of our research efforts,鈥� Parseghian said. 鈥淚t is on behalf of this incredible community that I receive this award.鈥�