Tailgate Benefit raises $5,000 for scholarships, Four Diamonds Fund

The sixth annual Penn State Great Valley Tailgate Benefit on Oct. 26 raised more than $5,000 for the School's Alumni Achievement Scholarship Fund and The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Two hundred people attended this year’s benefit, which produced the largest donation raised by the event. The event's success is due to the hard work and efforts of the Great Valley community’s alumni society members, advisory board members, alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends.

Great Valley Alumni Society president, Rich Boclair (Class of 2001, master of business administration), was thrilled. "We added a number of new elements to this year's event, including VIP seating with table service, a DJ/emcee with music and our best offering of silent auction items,” said Boclair. “In addition, we received generous support from individual benefactors this year, particularly Di and Dallas Krapf, the event's platinum sponsor."

The benefit featured the Penn State Nittany Lions-Ohio State Buckeyes game, which was televised on the school's 30-foot, high-definition screen. The crowd enjoyed a tailgate-themed buffet, Berkey Creamery ice cream served with homemade waffles from Waffatopia, a special appearance from the Nittany Lion mascot and a memorable singing of the alma mater by alumna Liz Bligan. Silent auction items at the event included a football signed by Bill O'Brien, a one-of-a-kind stained glass Penn State item, a beach house stay in Avalon, signed Eagles collectibles, Flyers hockey tickets, overnight getaways, plus numerous gift packages to local retail shops, restaurants, theaters and inns.

"The tailgate benefit is an amazing event that directly supports great Penn State causes," said Craig Edelbrock, chancellor, Penn State Great Valley. "We cannot thank the Alumni Society enough for their support of these worthy causes, which rely on the generosity of private donations."