Through outright gifts, pledges, and estate planning, Penn State Smeal alumni and friends have contributed close to $105 million during the University’s A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence fundraising campaign.
This total includes nearly $50 million for student scholarships. Other campaign gifts have been designated toward program funds that support student-focused initiatives such as the Wall Street and Real Estate Boot Camps, study abroad, lectureships, case competitions, and entrepreneurship, as well as endowed faculty positions, research funds, and professional development opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.
“Every contribution to Smeal is making an impact for our students and faculty,”
Michelle K. Houser, Smeal’s senior director of development and alumni relations, said that, to date, there have been more than 7,600 campaign gifts to Smeal, with close to 65 percent being less than $250 each.
“Every contribution to Smeal is making an impact for our students and faculty,” she says. “Our alumni and friends are providing emergency support to students in need, creating networking opportunities, sending students to case competitions, funding student organizations, and more.”
Dean Charles H. Whiteman also says that philanthropy is elevating the opportunities available for Smeal students and faculty.
“Smeal is a place of great talent, ambition, and success,” he says. “The support of our alumni and friends is vital to our mission to prepare learners— from undergraduate and graduate students to working professionals enrolled in Smeal’s professional graduate programs or executive education courses—with the knowledge, resources, and pathways needed to shape the future of business.”
With the Greater Penn State campaign set to conclude on June 30, 2022, Houser emphasizes that there’s still time to participate.
“When Penn Staters come together as one community, anything is possible,” she says. “Smeal’s global focus and unique cocurricular programs have been enhanced by the engagement of our alumni and friends, and we could not be more grateful for the time and talent they share with Smeal’s students, as well as their philanthropy. As we look to the future, we know that this will help us achieve even greater levels of success.”
For more information or to make a gift, contact:
MICHELLE K. HOUSER, senior director of development and alumni relations, (814) 865-7830, [email protected], smeal.psu.edu, greaterpennstate.psu.edu
Giving Tuesday Statistics
Supporting: Smeal Student Emergency Fund
Special thanks to:
DONOR CHALLENGE
John (’95 ACCIB) and Kassie Barnes
$5,000 in bonus funds were unlocked when the campaign reached 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 donors.
MATCHING GIFTS
Chris Kernan (’80 Acctg) and Chris Stevenson (’94 Fin)
The first 13 gifts of $100 or more received an additional $100 match.
