UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Alumni Association and its affiliate groups contributed a record $6 million to For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students, and 90 percent of all alumni campaign gifts ($799.7 million out of $879 million) came directly from Alumni Association members.
That philanthropic impact was outlined today (May 9) by Alumni Association President Kay Salvino in a report to the Board of Trustees during its regular May meeting.
The Alumni Association itself provided $2.7 million -- primarily in Trustee Matching Scholarships -- to the campaign while affiliate group giving totaled more than $3.2 million.
"We are thankful for and inspired by our members and our affiliate groups who have given back to Penn State time and time again in so many ways," Salvino said. "And there is no better way for the Alumni Association itself to live our mission of service and support to Penn State than through this type of philanthropic giving that has a direct -- and lasting -- impact on our students and our great University."
In her remarks, Salvino also noted that the Alumni Association has continued its focus on supporting University and community efforts to address the issues of child sexual abuse. Specifically, the Alumni Association has provided a grant to the new Centre County Child Advocacy Center; sponsored the Penn State Conference on Child Abuse and the "Make a Difference" collaborative; and supported the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape through its Vision of Hope event, among other initiatives.
Salvino also mentioned during her remarks that the Alumni Association continues its outreach, engagement and support of more than 172,000 members and 616,000 alumni through major activities and events including:
-- organizing Capital Day, this year held on April 1, with more than 200 students and alumni rallying in Harrisburg and making the case to legislators to support increases in Penn State’s annual budget appropriation;
-- supporting the third Penn State Coaches Caravan to include 17 stops and attended by more than 6,000 alumni, friends and fans featuring James Franklin and other coaches from Penn State’s 31-sport Intercollegiate Athletics program; and
-- in conjunction with the Office of Educational Equity, recently hosting the 20th anniversary reunion of alumni of the Bunton-Waller Fellows program. This initiative provides support for highly talented students from under-represented backgrounds and is named for the first African-American woman, Mildred Bunton, and first African-American man, Cal Waller, to graduate from Penn State.
Established in 1870, the Penn State Alumni Association connects alumni to the University and to each other; provides valuable benefits to members; and supports the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. More information about the Alumni Association is available at http://alumni.psu.edu.