Construction of the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center is slated to begin soon after Penn State’s Board of Trustees approves the final design, which could happen as early as the Board of Trustees meeting March 16. The building, adjoining Eisenhower Chapel, will cost about $9 million, all of which will come from private funds. Hillel’s gift brings the total raised thus far to just over $8 million.

            “We are grateful to Hillel’s board of directors for approving such a generous donation,” said University President Graham Spanier. “It is a marvelous demonstration of the ecumenical nature of the spiritual center—a multi-faith facility that will address the needs of all our student religious organizations. The spiritual center will stand as tangible evidence of Penn State’s commitment to value and nurture the cultural, intellectual and spiritual diversity of its students and faculty.”

            Spanier also noted that Tuvia Abramson, executive director of Penn State Hillel, has served on the spiritual center’s planning committee.

Student participation in religious and spiritual activities has grown far beyond the ability of Eisenhower Chapel’s ability to accommodate the needs of Penn State’s 32 registered student religious organizations.

            “Our board and the Jewish community are pleased to assist the University with this unique project, ” said William A. Jaffe of State College, who chairs Hillel's board of directors. “We also appreciate the inclusive nature surrounding the vision and design of this building. The facility will have a major impact in serving the spiritual needs of not only Jewish students, but students of all faiths on campus.”

            The spiritual center is named in honor of the late Frank and Sylvia Pasquerilla of Johnstown, who provided the leadership gift for its construction.

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Contact: Mike Bezilla 863-4512 (work) 238-5842 (home) mxb13@psu.edu