UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Smeal College of Business has received a gift of $250,000 from “Goldman Sachs Gives,” a donor-advised fund, to create the Gido Family Goldman Sachs Wall Street Excellence Fund. The gift was directed to the Smeal College by Jeffrey M. Gido, a 1994 Penn State alumnus and partner at Goldman Sachs, to support the operating budget of the Rogers Family Trading Room.
The trading room is a one-of-a-kind classroom — a technologically advanced space, equipped with state-of-the-art audio and video technology, access to financial and news networks, and real-time tickers and stock boards. The room’s 54 workstations are equipped with two monitors, a powerful computer, and specialized software for a variety of real and simulated trading and other finance-related challenges.
“From my experience, Smeal students who have spent time in the trading room are better prepared for a career in finance,” Gido said. “The trading room gives them access to the same tools and applications that they will use throughout their careers. The experience represents the best of the college.”
The Gido Family Goldman Sachs Wall Street Excellence Fund will provide new, cutting-edge technologies and software packages that will deepen students’ knowledge base and practical experience as they prepare to enter the highly competitive finance world.
“Providing an extraordinary education to our students is our highest strategic priority, and innovative co-curricular programming plays an essential role in our mission,” said Charles H. Whiteman, the John and Becky Surma Dean of Smeal. “Experiential learning opportunities like those available in the trading room have a transformative effect for students, helping them grow as individuals and as well-rounded professionals prepared for successful financial careers.”
Gido said the gift is intended to help Smeal students have access to the leading edge of investment technology.
“My wife, Wendy, and I, through the “Goldman Sachs Gives” program, hope that this support will not only expand trading room opportunities to even more students, but will also assure that the trading room has access to all the resources needed to make sure Smeal students continue to differentiate themselves in their job searches and in their financial careers,” Gido said.
The Gidos established the Gido Family Trustee Scholarship in 2014, the Gido Family Goldman Sachs Excellence Fund in 2016, and have pledged support for the college’s Finance Excellence Fund. Jeff Gido also is a member of Smeal’s Finance Advisory Board, a group of prominent alumni and friends who provide critical insight and perspective on the overall strategic direction of the finance program, and advise and assist faculty and administrations on matters relating to academic programs and the college’s reputation among members of the finance profession.
Gifts from Penn State's alumni and friends have been essential to the success of the University's historic land-grant mission to serve the public good. To fulfill that mission for a new era of rapid change and global connections, the University has begun “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” a fast-paced campaign focused on the three key imperatives of a public university: Private support will keep the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; create transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impact the world by fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more, visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu
About “Goldman Sachs Gives”
“Goldman Sachs Gives” is a global philanthropic fund reflecting the firm’s culture of teamwork and collaboration, fueling innovative ideas, the advancement of leaders solving complex social issues, and opportunity for underserved individuals and communities. Through “Goldman Sachs Gives,” the firm’s partners have recommended over $1.3 billion in grants to more than 6,000 nonprofit organizations, impacting communities in 90 countries around the world.