UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Zeta Beta Tau Foundation has made a $100,000 gift to support fraternity and sorority research through Penn State’s Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform. This contribution, which was matched by the University, will help propel research aimed at safer and more supportive fraternity and sorority life for Jewish students.
“The Zeta Beta Tau Foundation is pleased to provide a leadership gift to create a perpetual source of funds that will create a stronger and safer Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity experience and enhance the Jewish fraternity and sorority experience nationwide,” said Faron Lewitt, chief executive officer of the Zeta Beta Tau Foundation. “The work of the Piazza Center in general and that of the Jewish Fraternities and Sororities Committee aligns with the mission of the Zeta Beta Tau Foundation.”
Stevan Veldkamp, executive director of the Piazza Center, said the gift will help the center better support the needs of the Jewish fraternities and sororities.
"We are grateful to the ZBT Foundation. With this gift we will enlist support of Jewish scholars to study antisemitic hate that college students may be experiencing," Veldkamp said.
Bonnie Wunsch, executive director of Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority and co-lead of the Jewish Fraternities and Sororities Committee, said the project will “highlight the importance of Jewish fraternities and sororities and the continued need for our presence on campus.”
The Piazza Center is a national multidisciplinary research center that develops research to inform policy and practice through scientific approaches to prevent hazing and alcohol and substance misuse. It promotes and improves student learning to enhance leadership skills.
The center’s research, tools and best practices assist professionals and volunteers with increasing student safety, creating transformative experiences and fostering sustainable chapters that positively impact the campus and surrounding communities.
The Zeta Beta Tau Foundation is a nonprofit corporation exclusively committed to educational and charitable purposes that assist the collegiate and alumni brothers of Zeta Beta Tau.
The foundation assists the collegiate and alumni brothers of Zeta Beta Tau by funding scholarships, as well as academic and leadership programs, to maximize their personal development, prepare them to be leaders of society, and enhance the overall value of brotherhood in Zeta Beta Tau.
Penn State hopes to generate an endowment of $8 million to support the center's research. 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, visit the Piazza Center website.
With the record-breaking success of "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," which raised $2.2 billion from 2016 to 2022, philanthropy is helping sustain the University's tradition of education, research and service to communities across the commonwealth and around the globe. Scholarships enable the University to open doors and welcome students from every background. Support for transformative experiences allows students and faculty to fulfill their vast potential for leadership, and gifts toward discovery and excellence help the University to serve and impact the world. To learn more about the impact of giving and the continuing need for support, please visit the Raise Penn State website.