Student Affairs

Max Gruver Foundation gift supports Piazza Center sorority/fraternity research

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Max Gruver Foundation has made a gift of $25,000 to support fraternity and sorority research through Penn State’s Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform. The organization’s contribution, which was matched by Penn State, underscores the common purpose to eradicate hazing through robust prevention and intervention studies.

“This support will further the Piazza Center’s research into early warning signs of hazing and the community of practice study to prevent hazing and hazardous drinking,” said Stevan Veldkamp, Piazza Center executive director. “We are thrilled to partner with the Gruver family in the fight to end hazing.”

The Max Gruver Foundation was founded by Rae Ann and Steve Gruver as a nonprofit organization working to end hazing on college campuses through creating awareness, education, policy and laws to prevent hazing. The Gruvers’ son, Max, died weeks into his first semester at Louisiana State University after a fraternity hazing activity in 2017. The Gruvers have been fighting hazing ever since and working to pass new hazing laws in Louisiana.

The Max Gruver Foundation provides educational seminars and presentations and as part of that outreach, the Gruvers have presented at Penn State. The “Love Mom & Dad” program, which also included Jim and Evelyn Piazza, the parents of Tim Piazza who died at Penn State in 2017 following a hazing activity, shares the families’ personal stories of how hazing impacted them and also educates student audiences about hazing and hazing prevention.

“We are so pleased to be able to support the Piazza Center," said Rae Ann Gruver. “Our goal has always been to make Greek life safer for students, and every gift counts. If our support can improve member safety, it will hopefully save other families from feeling the pain that we have had to endure. We truly believe the fraternity and sorority life can enrich many students' lives, and we thank everyone who is accompanying us in giving to ensure their well-being.”

The foundation’s gift will support continued research studies that focus on hazing and hazing prevention, such as the Early Warning Signs of Hazing study, and the study titled "Creating Communities of Practice to Address Campus Hazing and Hazardous Drinking in Fraternity and Sorority Life."

The Piazza Center is a multidisciplinary research initiative whose mission is to uplift fraternity and sorority life. The center’s research agenda is based on a change model focused on a two-pronged approach to stronger and safer organizations.

  • Stronger: Enhancing student learning, specifically around leadership; diversity, equity and inclusion; and service
  • Safer: Focusing on campus prevention and intervention, including prevention of hazing, substance misuse and dangerous drinking

The center produces actionable data to give practitioners, campuses and headquarters the evidence needed to help enact significant change for over 750,000 members of fraternity and sorority life across more than 770 campuses.

Penn State hopes to generate an endowment of $8 million to support the center's research. Toward that end, the University has committed $2 million in initial funding and will match up to $3 million in additional endowment funds committed for this purpose. Through this opportunity, organizations, alumni, parents and friends can leverage their gifts to secure matching funds that double the impact of their generosity. To learn more about supporting the center and the goal that students in fraternities and sororities have a safe and enriching college experience, visit the Piazza Center website

Last Updated July 14, 2022