To honor his love of family, philanthropic spirit, and commitment to education, Humanics@FresnoState established the Philip T. Manoogian Philanthropic Award through contributions in lieu of flowers. The 2012 Education Grant of $3,000 was presented to Break The Barriers in Phil’s memory (see below for details). The 2013 Philip T. Manoogian Education Grant will be presented at the Humanics Students4Giving Press Conference on May 13, 2013.

Phil’s first cousin, Brian Tatarian, who emceed the memorial luncheon on Friday, 9/23/11, said,

“Phil emphasized that you don’t go to college and earn your degree to make money; you go to college and earn your degree to make a difference.”

During the past six years, the Humanics@Fresno State has awarded a total of $50,000 to 17 501c3 Community Benefit Organizations making a difference in Central California (read about this work here).

Acknowledgements are sent to Phil’s family.

*In May 2012, the Humanics@FresnoState Students4Giving Philanthropy Project awarded the Philip T. Manoogian Education Grant Award of $3000 to Break The Barriers to conduct a series of assemblies for Fresno Unified summer school students in Southeast and Southwest Fresno to promote ability awareness, outreach and education, and health and fitness.

In Fall 2012, our Humanics Scholars followed up with Break The Barriers to evaluate the outcomes of the grant and learned:

• Nearly 900 students participated in two “Ability Awareness Assemblies” held at Kirk Elementary & Susan B. Anthony Elementary.
• Evaluations collected from student participants revealed positive impacts on students’ attitudes about disability, inclusion, and participation in physical activity.
• Between June 19 and August 17, 2012, nearly 50 students from Anthony, Addams, and Kirk elementary schools in FUSD participated in summer field trips to Break The Barriers and engaged in physical activities, including Wii Fit & Xbox fitness programs, gymnastics, dance, Tae Kwon Do, swimming, tennis, and archery in an inclusive program (and some students have been able to return to Break The Barriers for an afterschool fitness, health, and nutrition program during the 2012-13 school year.
• A plaque displayed at Break The Barriers reads:

Breaking Barriers Awards
Central California
Ability Awareness, Outreach, & Education Program
Southeast and Southwest Fresno

In Memory of
Philip T. Manoogian
For his Philanthropic Spirit and
Commitment to Education

Humanics Students4Giving
Philanthropy Project at Fresno State