A Message from the President

Every autumn for the last eight years, I have had this opportunity—my annual message in the “President’s Report on Philanthropy and Endowments”—to speak directly to you, our most engaged, generous, and loyal supporters. This message has always been a moment to reflect on the fundraising success that you have made possible over the preceding fiscal year, on the achievements fueled by your support and your belief in the ability of our institution and our students to thrive and to lead. Philanthropy has never been more important than it has during the challenges of the global pandemic, when your giving has allowed us to maintain the strength of our programs and sustain the tradition of access and opportunity that has defined Penn State for generations.

As I enter my final year as Penn State’s President, our current fundraising campaign, “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” is entering its final year as well. This fundraising effort has great personal meaning for me: its vision and its goals are truly expressions of what I believe to be the responsibilities of a great land-grant institution at this moment in our history. Our commitment to opening doors to higher education and to meaningful careers and lives for our students has received new affirmation from the $543.6 million received, as of June 30, for scholarships during this campaign. We have created transformative experiences for students, faculty, and the Penn State community through $248.6 million in private gifts, and our impact on the world has been deepened through $702.4 million for initiatives focused on human health, resource security, and economic development.

In the stories that follow, you’ll learn about signature gifts from the past year that will enable us to fulfill each of these imperatives and our promise to past, present, and future generations of Penn Staters. You’ll also learn about the priorities that will focus our efforts during the final year of the campaign in the Looking Ahead notes. Through your support, and through the vision and dedication of our entire community, I have had the honor of helping an already-great institution to become a “Greater Penn State,” and I am profoundly grateful.

Eric J. Barron President The Pennsylvania State University