UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — During Penn State’s ninth annual GivingTuesday celebration on Nov. 28, members of the Penn State Outreach community stepped up and gave 266 gifts totaling $20,752 to support Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, the Arboretum at Penn State, WPSU, K-12 Engagement Network, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Penn State, Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center and Readiness Institute at Penn State.
One of the successful campaigns directed support to Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, and Director Mark McLaughlin expressed gratitude on behalf of all efforts undertaken this year.
“We are so pleased with the support expressed during GivingTuesday,” said McLaughlin. "The number of donors and the coinciding matching donation for those donors will certainly help us advance the work for our renovations to the Shaver’s Creek animal care facility that will in turn support our Penn State Outreach efforts in wildlife education and conservation. Support for every GivingTuesday campaign furthers Outreach’s strategic role in advancing the University’s 21st century land-grant mission by connecting faculty and student expertise to communities around Pennsylvania, the nation and world.”
Funds raised during GivingTuesday will support the following Penn State Outreach programs:
Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
Forty gifts totaling $2,015 will support the renovation of back-of-the-house animal care facilities. A challenge fund provided by Jim and Ellen Campbell contributed to this total.
The Arboretum at Penn State
Gifts are making transportation to the Arboretum at Penn State available to K–12 students across Pennsylvania. Thirty-two gifts totaling $4,375 were given to the Arboretum, which means three buses can be filled to transport students for field trips.
WPSU Cozy Corners
Eleven gifts totaling $570 will support the creation and installation of activity spaces in locations across northern and central Pennsylvania.
WPSU-FM Internships
Thirty-eight gifts offering $2,912 will provide funding for two students to work as paid radio news interns for WPSU-FM for the spring semester of 2024. A challenge fund provided by an anonymous donor contributed to this total.
K-12 Engagement Network
Seventeen donors gave $800 for Penn State Outreach’s newest program connecting Penn State resources to K–12 students, educators, administrators and families across Pennsylvania.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
Gifts from 117 donors totaling $8,380 are helping to ensure OLLI’s financial and operational sustainability. Three challenge funds from Jan Yoder and John Zipp, Carol and Steve Gentry and Susan Gordon contributed to this total.
Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center
This year, seven donors gave a total of $1,425 to the City Semester Student Fellowship Fund, which will help offset tuition and related costs for Penn State students spending their summer in Pittsburgh with the City Semester program.
Readiness Institute at Penn State
Four gifts totaling $275 will support the expansion of the Readiness Institute Summer Program, a transformative educational experience that equips rising high school seniors with vital skills and knowledge to help them thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
“Funds generated from our friends and alumni across the commonwealth has marked this GivingTuesday as the largest show of support in the years Penn State Outreach has participated in this campaign,” said Larry Terry, vice president for Penn State Outreach. “Through the generosity of the Penn State community and the work carried out daily by staff, faculty and students, the University will continue to be on the front line of outreach, fulfilling its land-grant mission.”
Gifts made on GivingTuesday are advancing the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.