For more than four decades, Penn State has proudly designated the Centre County United Way as the University’s charity of choice. And for more than 40 years, the annual Penn State United Way Campaign has contributed more than 40% of the dollars raised for the Centre County United Way each year. This is truly a testament to the power of our community and the “We Are!” spirit that connects us as Penn Staters. 

The impact of our support for the Centre County United Way cannot be overstated. It empowers local nonprofits to fight food and housing insecurity among our most vulnerable community members. It supports agencies that help young people involved with the criminal justice system take responsibility for their mistakes and make amends with those they’ve wronged. It helps connect our neighbors in times of crisis with the mental health resources they need to not only overcome their current adversity, but to grow and thrive into the future.  

Our support for the Centre County United Way, simply put, changes lives.  

That's why we are once again asking for your support for the Penn State United Way Campaign. 

At the United Way’s recent 2022-23 campaign kickoff event in State College, supporters placed their handprints on a downtown mural to illustrate how our community is “all hands on deck” in support of the United Way’s mission to provide vital services across the interconnected fields of education, health and financial security.  
 
We recognize that when a child succeeds in school, we all win. When an uninsured neighbor is able to access the care they need, we all win. When a hardworking family achieves financial stability, we all win. Truly, we are all in this together. That’s what it means to be a community. 

Every year, one in three Centre County residents access the resources and services funded through the United Way. Every year, over 53,000 of our friends and neighbors are able to live fuller, richer, more stable lives because of our support for the Centre County United Way. 
 
That is why we’re all hands on deck for the United Way, and that is why we are asking you to join us. 
 
Please visit UnitedWay.psu.edu to learn how you can give, volunteer and Live United. 

Sincerely, 

Neeli Bendapudi, Penn State President 

Lee Kump, Chair of the 2022-23 Penn State United Way Campaign and John Leone Dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences