UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Navy League of the United States (Central Pennsylvania council) will hold a benefit banquet for the Penn State Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Student Scholarship Fund on Friday, Oct. 28, at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on Penn State's University Park campus.
At the dinner, the Navy League will honor local real estate professional and avid runner Tom Cali with the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Distinguished Citizen Award.
As both a Penn State graduate and a part-time instructor in the Smeal College of Business, Cali is being honored for his longstanding involvement and support of a number of projects, initiatives and events, both at Penn State and in the community.
Cali has supported State College youth through his involvement as a coach and board member of the Centre Soccer Association, a Cub Scout den leader, a sponsor of the Nittany Track and Field Youth Club, and as a volunteer for Our Lady of Victory School.
He is an active supporter of the Centre County United Way, the Pennsylvania Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, Team Ream, Coaches vs. Cancer, Nittany Valley Running Club, and the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. He served on the board of Centre Volunteers in Medicine, and continues to serve that organization as a member of their facilities committee and the Marathoners for Medicine fundraising efforts. Recently, Cali completed two terms of board membership for the Centre County Women’s Resource Center. He also has served on both the Parish and Finance Councils of Good Shepherd Church.
Guest speaker for the event is Col. Thomas Manion, U.S. Marine Corps (retired), chairman emeritus of the Travis Manion Foundation. Manion served as a Marine for 30 years, 11 on active duty and 19 in the reserves, before retiring in 2008. After ending his active duty service in 1990, Manion began a successful career as a business and information technology executive at Johnson & Johnson. The Travis Manion Foundation, named after 1st Lt. Travis Manion, who was killed in Iraq 2007, empowers veterans and the families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations.
Seating at the dinner is limited; prices start at $75 for an individual attendee and range up to $1,500 for an Admiral's Level Sponsorship. Sponsorship of individual midshipmen and active duty military dinners also will be accepted. To register for the event, visit http://www.navyleague-centralpa.org/. For more information, contact Randy Richards at Richards.randall.g@gmail.com or 814-574-7088.
The Lt. Michael P. Murphy Distinguished Citizen Award is given to a non-active-duty person whose character, distinguished military or civilian service and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which the Central Pennsylvania Council of the Navy League strives and that Murphy embodied. A 1998 Penn State graduate, Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Oct. 22, 2007, for his actions in combat June 27-28, 2005, while leading a special reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan. This special operations mission was portrayed in the film “Lone Survivor.”
The Navy League of Central Pennsylvania is dedicated to nonpartisan, enhanced public understanding and awareness of the missions and challenges facing today's Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine, as well as advocating for the well-being of the men and women of each of the services.