<\/p>\n
LEHIGH VALLEY, PA, October 12, 2018 \u2013 <\/span><\/b>Valley Youth House (VYH) is pleased to announce that Emily A. Conners, M.S., will receive the 2018 Rising Star Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Eastern PA Chapter.<\/p>\n This award is presented to a fundraising professional with five or fewer years paid experience who exemplifies professionalism and creativity, has documented success in fundraising and a commitment to professional development.<\/p>\n A lifelong Lehigh Valley resident, Conners attended Freedom High School before studying Sociology (Human Services concentration) and Geography at Bucknell University. \u00a0After graduating Magna Cum Laude, Conners was accepted into the AmeriCorps VISTA national service program, where she worked within the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley\u2019s education initiative in the Easton Area School District.\u00a0 Conners mobilized people and resources to eliminate barriers to learning for low income students by evaluating data, building relationships with nonprofits, and enhancing marketing practices in order to increase and promote the school district\u2019s community partnerships.\u00a0 In 2016, Conners attained her Master\u2019s in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania\u2019s School of Social Policy and Practice.<\/p>\n Conners is currently a Development Officer at Valley Youth House, a $29 million human services agency that annually serves over 31,000 homeless, foster, and vulnerable youth and families throughout Pennsylvania.\u00a0 Conners\u2019 responsibilities include raising over $500,000 per year through development operations, including special events, corporate sponsorships, community partnerships, annual giving, and third party fundraisers. This role also encompasses marketing responsibilities such as media relations, branding, public relations, and internal and external content creation and communications.\u00a0 Since 2016, Conners has raised $1.9 million dollars in fundraising revenue for Valley Youth House.<\/p>\n Conners was a 2017 graduate of Leadership Lehigh Valley at the Center for Business & Industry and has been honored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation \u2013 Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter as one of \u201cLehigh Valley\u2019s Finest\u201d.\u00a0 She is currently a member of the Association of Fundraising Professional (AFP) Eastern PA Chapter\u2019s NextGen Committee and was selected as the chapter\u2019s Chamberlain Scholar in 2018.<\/p>\n Conners serves on the Advisory Committee for Lehigh Valley Summerbridge, where she taught during college.\u00a0 Lehigh Valley Summerbridge is a nonprofit education program for low-income, middle school youth, hosted by Moravian Academy.\u00a0 Conners is also the Co-President of the Bucknell Club of the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to raising significant funds from individual and corporate donors, Emily Conners has greatly expanded the agency\u2019s website and online presence on multiple social media platforms, leading to increased recognition of the agency\u2019s brand, mission, and accomplishments.\u00a0 We greatly appreciate her dedication and exceptional commitment to helping address the ever changing needs of the youth and families who receive our programming and services,\u201d comments Christina Schoemaker, Senior Vice President of Development and Marketing at Valley Youth House.<\/p>\n About Valley Youth House<\/p>\n Valley Youth House (ValleyYouthHouse.org) does more than just provide homes for Pennsylvania\u2019s vulnerable, abused and homeless youth. We partner with thousands of individuals each year to build a solid foundation for young people and their families. With dedicated street outreach, housing, counseling, skills training, health, prevention, and intervention services, we empower resilient young people in establishing promising futures.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Information & image provided to TVL by:
\nChristina J. Schoemaker
\nSVP, Development & Marketing<\/p>\n