Two faculty members will study the health insurance of older Americans who are approaching retirement age, thanks to a recently announced grant of $98,105 to Penn State from The Commonwealth Fund, a New York City-based national philanthropic foundation which undertakes independent research on health and social issues.
The grant funds a research project, "Dynamics of Health Insurance of Older Americans and Options for Reform," in support of The Commonwealth Fund's Task Force on the Future of Health Insurance for Working Americans.
The work will be carried out under the direction of Pamela Farley Short, professor of health policy and administration in the College of Health and Human Development, and director of Penn State's Center for Health Policy Research. The center is housed with the Institute for Policy Research and Evaluation. She'll collaborate with Dennis G. Shea, associate professor of health policy and administration.
The John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne Rees Charitable Foundation of Titusville has matched the February 1999 endowment gift of John Henne to Penn State Erie with a grant of $150,000, bringing the total of the John K. Henne Endowment for International Study to $300,000. The foundation's gift will significantly increase the number of students who are able to take part in international learning experiences.
Henne is a longtime friend of the college and a lifelong resident of Titusville. His endowment supports Penn State's goal of involving at least 20 percent of the student body in an international experience.