University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's recently completed and highly successful Grand Destiny capital campaign saw the athletics development staff raise more than $134 million during the campaign's seven years.
The University announced on July 11 that $1.371 billion in private funding was raised during the campaign, which began on July 1, 1996 and ended June 30, 2003. The University's goal for the campaign was to raise $1.3 billion to fund student, faculty and program support, especially for those areas where public funds are inadequate or unavailable.
The initial goal of the intercollegiate athletics' campaign was $90 million, which was revised to $125 million. A total of $134,176,383 was raised -- 6.9 percent more than the revised goal.
"We greatly appreciate the hard work and efforts of the athletic campaign committee, the athletic development staff and the support received from the private sector to ensure that Penn State athletics continues to move forward in pursuit of our many goals and objectives," said Tim Curley, director of athletics. "The support from the campaign has enabled us to make significant progress in improving our athletic and academic facilities and provided many endowed scholarships, areas that are critical in helping us continue to attract the highest quality student-athletes."
During the seven years of the campaign, the funds raised by athletics have fueled numerous new scholarships and facility enhancements. Among the campaign highlights:
- A total of 37,170 donors gave 174,204 gifts to athletics during the campaign;
- The campaign established 207 new scholarships/endowments, including 49 full scholarships or endowed positions;
- The campaign fulfilled 37 naming opportunities;
- A 12,500-seat expansion and renovation of Beaver Stadium was designed and completed, bringing the capacity to 107,282, second-largest in the nation. The project, which was completed prior to the 2001 season, includes private suite and club level seating previously unavailable. The $93-million improvement upgraded stadium infrastructure, added rest rooms and concession stands, and created new team and support facilities. It also included construction of the magnificent Penn State All-Sports Museum to house Penn State's impressive collection of sports memorabilia;
- Among the other facility projects completed in the last five years include the construction of the Lasch Football Building ($13.8 million), Indoor Multi-Sport Facility ($16 million), Sarni Tennis Center ($2.1 million) and the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes and renovations to the White Building ($8 million) and East Area Locker Room ($2 million). Additional athletic facility improvements are on the drawing board, including a new baseball facility, awaiting final design and funding.
During the seven years of the campaign, the funds raised by athletics have helped Penn State remain one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs. Among the Nittany Lions' and Lady Lions' athletic and academic accomplishments since July 1, 1996:
- Sixteen Big Ten championships and seven Big Ten tournament titles;
- Seven NCAA championships;
- 13 teams with appearances in their sport's NCAA "Final Four;"
- In the most recent comprehensive look at the 117 U.S. colleges and universities participating in Division I football and men's basketball, U.S. News and World Report selected Penn State as one of 10 Division I-A institutions for its College Sports Honor Roll. Data on gender equity, number of varsity sports, graduation rates, sanctions, wins and losses were analyzed to determine the listing (March 2002);
- The Sporting News, a national sports weekly, took note of the Nittany Lion and Lady Lion achievements and rated Penn State as the top athletic program in the country (September 1999);
- Penn State finished fifth in the NACDA Directors' Cup all-sports standings in 2002-03, its seventh top 10 finish and fourth top five placing in the the survey's 10 years. More than 300 colleges or universities were eligible;
- Academic performance by Penn State student-athletes continues to keep pace with achievements on the field. The 2002 NCAA graduation rate report showed that 82 percent of the class that entered in 1995-96 graduated within six years. This figure was tied for the highest among all Division I-A public institutions and was eighth best nationally among all Div. I-A programs. The national average for all institutions was 60 percent, according to the annual NCAA report;
- The Nittany Lions earned a school record 231 Academic All-Big Ten choices in 2002-03 and have led all conference institutions in six of the past seven years. Over the past seven years, Penn State has had 1,473 Academic All-Big Ten selections, easily the most among the league schools;
The Athletic Campaign Committee members are: L.J. Rowell, Jr. (chair); Judith A. Klein (co-chair); Alvin H. Clemens; Richard F. DeFluri; Kelly J. Grimes; Michael J. Hudacek, Sr.; William A. Jaffe; David M. Joyner; William H. Kerlin, Jr.; John A. Leone; Anthony P. Lubrano; James M. Meister; Arthur J. Nagle; Lance T. Shaner and Richard S. Sokolov.
Additional scholarship, endowment and naming opportunities in athletics are available. For more information, please contact Pete Liske, director of major gifts for athletics, or John Greene, associate director of development, at 814-865-9462.