An anonymous donor has approached Father Matthew Laffey, O.S.B., director of Catholic Campus Ministry for Penn State University Park campus, with $250,000.00 and a challenge for others to match that amount by December 31. The lead gift and additional contributions will create a new permanent endowment for maintenance and preservation needs of the Suzanne Pohland Paterno Catholic Student Faith Center, located on Park Avenue in State College.
The new permanent endowment will be administered by the Independent Catholic Foundation. Endowment principal will never be spent, but the Foundation’s Board of Trustees will approve a percentage of investment income to be made available annually for maintenance and capital repairs of the Faith Center.
Although the 20,000 square-foot multi-purpose facility was dedicated just five years ago, it has fast become the hub of Catholic evangelization initiatives for students, faculty and staff at Penn State’s main campus. The donor’s foresight will allow the endowment principal to take advantage of current investment growth and will minimize the surprise of major repairs in the future.
The Catholic Student Faith Center was named in honor of Sue Paterno for her tireless dedication to, and involvement in, Catholic Campus Ministry since it began more than 50 years ago.
Anyone interested in making a challenge gift of any amount may download the Challenge Gift Form below and mail it to the Independent Catholic Foundation, 5618 Fifth Avenue Suite 1, Altoona, PA 16602. Individuals interested in donating appreciated securities should contact the Foundation by phone (814-201-2080) or e-mail (director@icfdaj.org) or download transfer instructions from the “Give Now” webpage at www.icfdaj.org.
