UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An anonymous donor has committed a $3,000 gift to the Penn State School of Theatre fund. The fund was created to offer financial assistance to help offset the needs of students in the School of Theatre. The gift is intended to inspire others to contribute, according to the donor. To date, the fund has raised $9,550.
"We were enormously grateful when an anonymous donor who had been watching our Penn State Centre Stage Virtual productions over the summer stepped forward to offer a $3,000 gift for the School of Theatre fund. This donor recognized that it is likely that this year, due to the impact of the pandemic, that we will have more students with serious economic need than in previous years. The power of this anonymous gift was felt immediately last week, when we learned that a student was in need and we were able to help them stay enrolled this semester, " said Rick Lombardo, director of the School of Theatre and artistic director of Penn State Centre Stage.
The gift inspired local arts supporter and Centre Stage donor Mary Wujek to quickly respond with a generous donation. "I feel for the students who are returning to campus who may have lost their summer employment, as well as those whose parents may have also lost their jobs. Many students will need additional support as they return for the fall semester, and knowing the donation would be put to immediate use motivated me to act now," said Wujek.
Donations to the fund are collected through the Penn State Centre Stage Virtual series of free online performances which can be viewed at sites.psu.edu/pscsvirtual. Donations of any amount may also be made directly at School of Theatre Fund.
Gifts to the fund will advance "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.
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