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Robert A. “Bob” Dent Recognized as Outstanding Philanthropist by AFP-New Jersey
IEEE Life Senior Member Robert A. “Bob” Dent has received the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) New Jersey’s Excellence in Philanthropy Award for Outstanding Philanthropist for his philanthropy to IEEE through the IEEE Foundation.
Since 1981, AFP NJ’s Excellence in Philanthropy Awards have recognized the achievements of some of the most notable citizens and organizations in the State who have dedicated their efforts toward making New Jersey a better place.
Bob embodies the philanthropic spirit and emanates a strong desire to personally “give back” to IEEE and his community. Bob is a champion in providing funding opportunities in avenues of monthly giving, matching gifts, leadership giving and planned giving. He is a member of two IEEE donor recognition groups the IEEE Goldsmith Legacy League (Planned Giving) and the IEEE Heritage Circle (Cumulative Giving).
Bob’s volunteer work with IEEE started when he joined the IEEE Student Branch in 1965 while he was a senior at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, USA. Bob says, “IEEE provided an opportunity to read and hear technical information, to develop professionally, and to network with my peers in the profession and the industry in which I had chosen to work.”
After 32 years of volunteering for IEEE, he joined the IEEE staff as the Executive Director of the Power Engineering Society, now known as the Power & Energy Society (PES). He has since served in many volunteer roles within IEEE and has been a leading donor to all of the programs he has been associated with, including IEEE Smart Village, IEEE History Center, REACH, IEEE SSIT and IEEE Eta Kappa Nu. The IEEE Smart Village initiative caught Bob’s attention as soon as he learned of it. “Bringing electricity, education and entrepreneurship to remote areas around the globe is a very noble aim and I financially support this signature program because it brings technology to very needed uses,” he said.
Bob says, “I want to pay forward to programs that benefit present and future electrical engineers and society, in general.” Read more about Bob and this recognition in The IEEE Institute.
