With less than 10 months remaining, Penn State New Kensington is in the final stretch of the seven-year “For the Future” campaign. The campus goal of $3 million is well within reach, and Donna Speer, director of development, has called for the “Big Push” to get the campus past the established mark.

As of Aug. 1, the campus has received more than 3,700 gifts and pledges totaling $2.6 million since the campaign began in July 2007. New Kensington has reached 85 percent of its goal with 93 percent of the campaign under way. Overall, the University-wide campaign has raised $1.85 billion of its $2 billion goal, percentages that mirror those of the campus.

“The campaign is about students and the community,” said Kevin Snider, chancellor of the campus. “Our donors aren’t just making the dream of a Penn State degree a reality for students; they are also investing in the future of the Alle-Kiski Valley and western Pennsylvania.”

Blending a donor’s vision with the needs and objectives of the campus is the key to realizing the five objectives of the overall campaign: ensuring student opportunity; enriching the student experience; fostering discovery and creativity; sustaining a tradition of quality; and building faculty strength and capacity. Ensuring student access and opportunity through scholarship support is the priority for the campaign. A Penn State education must remain accessible to students regardless of their financial wherewithal.

While the campus campaign mirrors that of the University, the “Big Push” focuses on four student-centered projects: the theater, softball field, hardship fund and trustee scholarships. The Forum Theatre has been the central venue for campus and cultural events for more than 40 years. The theater’s condition reflects general wear and tear, and along with the aging equipment and furniture, is in need of renovations to help it to continue to serve the campus and community.

Plans for a softball diamond are under way and awaiting funding. Currently playing home games at a municipal field, the Lady Lions’ new home will be on campus and situated below the soccer field. Support from alumni and friends is vital for the project to come to fruition.

The hardship fund is geared to students who encounter unexpected circumstances while enrolled at the campus. At the discretion of the chancellor, awards are made to help students with tuition, books and living expenses.

The trustee program allows donors to make the most of their philanthropic dollars. Through the matching scholarship program, developed in 2002 by the Board of Trustees, donors become partners with the University in supporting students. The annual spendable income on an endowed scholarship, which averages 5 percent, is matched by the University. For the “Big Push,” the University’s match doubles from 5 percent to 10 percent, thus tripling the financial impact for New Kensington campus students.

For more information about the campus campaign, contact Donna Speer at 724-334-6057 or dms46@psu.edu.

For more about giving, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Giving/giveoptions.htm.