In December 2005, alumni and friends of Penn State donated $44.4 million. Sounds like a lot, right? This past December, those alumni and friends donated over $58 million, setting a new fundraising record (in a single month) for Penn State.

President Spanier had the following comment, according to Penn State Live: “Our donors continue their loyalty to Penn State, and we are most grateful to each of them for their exceedingly generous support, which is essential to the University’s future.”

Of the December total, 31,000 donors gave over 37,000 gifts. Eleven of these gifts surpassed $1 million.

Penn State hopes that this new record will fit into an upcoming crescendo of gift-giving, culminating in the “For the Future” campaign, a fundraising initiative beginning on April 23, 2010. The campaign emphasizes education affordability for students of modest means.

Will the recession impact this year’s donations? Slim personal budgets may cause donors to purchase necessities rather than partake in philanthropy. However, let’s hope our wonderful alumni choose to give back to dear old State.

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