Rosalind E. “Roz” Sky, of Altoona, will receive the Penn State Alumni Association’s Honorary Alumni Award at University Park on June 1 for her lifelong commitment as volunteer and philanthropist.

Among the organizations she has supported include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Blair County, the American Cancer Society, Agudath Achim Congregation, Greater Altoona Jewish Federation, Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, the Blair County Arts Foundation and many others.

The Honorary Alumni Award was created by the Penn State Alumni Association in 1973 to recognize individuals who, though not graduates of Penn State, greatly enhanced the University through their commitment and service.

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Roz married her husband, the late Phil Sky, a Penn State alumnus, in 1963. The couple moved to Altoona in 1971 when Phil joined his family’s business, Sky Brothers Inc. Food Distributors.

Roz Sky enjoyed more than 20 years of experience in developing award-winning trade shows for her family’s business, which was later sold to the Sara Lee Corp. in 1986.

In 2017, the Skys received the Central PA Community Foundation Philanthropy Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals who have generously given of their resources to help better lives and build stronger communities.

In 2012, Roz Sky received the WISE Women of Blair County Community Service Volunteer Award for her community service, and in 2008, the American Cancer Society honored her with the Shirley A. Pechter Pinnacle Award for her achievements and accomplishments in furthering the mission of the cancer society in Blair County.

The couple established the Phillip B. and Rosalind E. Sky CRUT and named Penn State Altoona as the sole beneficiary. Initial funding led to the naming of the Port-Sky Cafe, and all remaining funds will be used to establish the Sky Family Scholarship.

The Skys have been recognized for their philanthropic support with membership in both the University’s Mount Nittany Society and the Ivy Circle category of Penn State Altoona’s Ivyside Society, the highest level of recognition.

Roz said she considers her greatest achievement to be her family — two children, Izzy and wife, Dana; Tobi Sky Rispoli, and husband, Dave; and four grandchildren, Sam and Mandy Sky and Tyler and Casey Rispoli.