UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Max Gruver Foundation and Rae Ann and Steve Gruver have announced a $30,000 commitment to support Penn State’s Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research, in addition to an existing $25,000 pledge of support.
The foundation’s gift will allow continued research studies that focus on hazing prevention, including a study to identify and address hazing before it escalates and identifying effective strategies for curbing hazing when it occurs.
“The Max Gruver Foundation is proud to be able to continue supporting the Piazza Center in its research to prevent hazing on college campuses. The Piazza Center research is important in this fight to eradicate hazing across the country,” said Rae Ann Gruver, founder of the foundation. “We are proud to be a part of this change.”
The Max Gruver Foundation was founded by Rae Ann and Steve Gruver as a nonprofit organization working to end hazing on college campuses through creating awareness, education, policy and laws to prevent hazing. The Gruvers’ son, Max, died weeks into his first semester at Louisiana State University after a fraternity hazing activity in 2017. The Gruvers, along with Jim and Evelyn Piazza, have been fighting hazing ever since while working to pass new state and federal hazing laws.
The donation comes from proceeds of the annual Fly High Max 5K run, an annual event held in March by the Max Gruver Foundation. In addition to supporting crucial research efforts, the foundation provides educational seminar seminars and presentations for student and parent audiences about the dangers of hazing and hazing prevention.
“The Gruvers’ commitments have helped us build robust campus hazing prevention resources to address dangerous drinking and hazing on campuses,” said Stevan Veldkamp, executive director of the Piazza Center. “We are thrilled to continue this partnership with Max’s family and continue working together in the fight to prevent hazing.”
The Piazza Center is a nationwide leader in preventing hazing, reducing substance misuse and enhancing student well-being across 800 fraternity and sorority communities. The center provides research, tools and best practices for professionals and volunteers.
Penn State aims to generate an endowment of $8 million to support the center's research. The University has committed $2 million in initial funding and will match up to $3 million in additional endowment funds committed for this purpose, allowing organizations, alumni, parents and friends to secure matching funds that double the impact of their generosity.
Support for the Piazza Center advances 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 families, patients, and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.