Athletics

Penn State Altoona receives $500,000 gift from Reliance Bank

ALTOONA, Pa. — Reliance Bank leads the charge for Penn State Altoona’s Adler Athletic Complex renovation and expansion project with a $500,000 gift to name the building’s fitness center.The Penn State Board of Trustees approved final plans for the renovation project in November 2015. The $24.5 million project will support intramural and Division III athletic programs, as well as a new kinesiology program.The impressive new facility will serve as a focal point for educational, cultural, community and athletic programming on campus. Located at the front entrance of Adler, the fitness center will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. The updated facility will encourage health and well-being among the Penn State Altoona community.The renovated facility will also feature a gymnasium area with sufficient space for intercollegiate sports and bleacher seating for 2,200 people."On behalf of our entire Penn State Altoona community, and most especially our students, I extend my sincere appreciation to Reliance Bank for their steadfast support of our college and community," said Chancellor and Dean Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry. "The Adler expansion and renovation project will be a wonderful asset to our community. While it will enhance our college's academic and intercollegiate varsity athletics programs, as well as increase students' access to top-notch recreational and fitness facilities, it will also enable us to host all manner of cultural enrichment programs for our community. Reliance Bank's generous support will undoubtedly inspire others to be a part of this exciting project, and I am truly grateful for their unwavering support."Brent Baird, director of athletics, remarked, “This gift will benefit the recreational fitness and athletic programs while enhancing the students’ experiences outside of the classroom. Reliance Bank is an outstanding organization that believes in supporting and improving the local community. We are so grateful for the continued support from Reliance Bank.”Reliance Bank has demonstrated its strong commitment to our Altoona community and campus. In 2011, Reliance Bank made a gift in support of the Intercollegiate Athletics program — one of the largest of its kind. The Reliance Bank Trustee Scholarship was created in 2014, in support of students residing in Blair County."Many members of the Reliance Bank family have strong ties to Penn State Altoona. As an organization, we believe it is one of the keystones of our community. This gift will serve to further expand our special relationship,” said Reliance Bank President and CEO Denny Doll. “Other local individuals and businesses share the same special connection. We trust they will join us in supporting this important effort."

Supporters like Reliance Bank are invaluable partners in fulfilling the University's land-grant mission of education, research and service. Private gifts from alumni, friends and corporate partners enrich the experiences of students both in and out of the classroom, expand the research and teaching capacity of our faculty, enhance the University's ability to recruit and retain top students and faculty, and help to ensure that students from every economic background have access to a Penn State education. The University's colleges and campuses are now enlisting the support of alumni and friends to advance a range of unit-specific initiatives.

To learn more about supporting the Adler project, contact Director of Development and Alumni Relations N. Susan Woodring at 814-949-5104 or swd1@psu.edu.

From left to right, Reliance Bank President and CEO Denny Doll, Chair of Reliance Bank Board of Directors Tim Sissler, Chancellor and Dean Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, and Director of Athletics Brent Baird share in the excitement over the bank's $500,000 gift for the campus' Adler Athletic Complex Fitness Loft. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated February 22, 2016