DP Professionals is pleased to announce that Barbara and Roger Blau have been selected for the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award by the Central SC Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). They will be honored during a luncheon at the Capital City Club on November 20^th.

Barbara and Roger Blau have been instrumental in leading fundraising efforts for several local and global philanthropic organizations. A few highlights of their leadership include:

• During their tenure as co-chairs of the United Way’s Tocqueville Society, membership grew 22% from July 2010 through June 2012 – a time of economic distress. Giving from the Society’s members grew from $1,215,039 in June 2010, to $1,328,086 in June 2011, and to $1,568,491 in June 2012. Barbara continues to serve on the United Way board.
• In 2012, Barbara and Roger received the Living and Giving Award at the 15^th annual Wings of Love Gala for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Palmetto Chapter. The JDRF gala raised $207,000 for diabetes research. Over the years, the Blaus have participated in other JDRF galas, JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, and other key JDRF events. Barbara and Roger are both major donors for JDRF. They are dedicated to the goal of finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.
• As Treasurer and chair of the South Carolina State Museum Foundation, Roger Blau led the effort to raise $11.5 million in funds for the Windows to New Worlds project. He helped secure large gifts from several major corporations and individuals in order to meet the goal. The multi-dimensional facility, which includes a planetarium and observatory, will open in 2014.
• The list of organizations that Barbara has been involved with is lengthy indeed. Her interests range from education to business to faith-based organizations.

The nomination for the award stated that Barbara and Roger are “quite frequently asked to chair or lead an organization once they serve because they always follow through on their commitments.” The nomination continued:

Roger and Barbara’s efforts for all of the non-profit organizations named extend far beyond the reaches of Columbia, SC. Their successes are evidence of their ability to collaborate with others and to establish partnerships with the many organizations they have served so well. Whether it be United Way, a worldwide organization, JDRF, the many Jewish organizations they have led or the State Museum foundation, they have engaged a diverse audience of donors and supporters and have motivated them to join with the Blaus to contribute to these worthwhile projects.

The luncheon will be held at the Capital City Club on Nov. 20th at 11:30 am. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.afpcsc.net/NPD.

Barbara Blau is the founder and president of DP Professionals. Roger Blau is the Vice President of Operations. Founded in 1996, DP Professionals is a premier, full-service recruiting and staffing firm specializing in contract and direct placement of Information Technology professionals.