A Penn State Glee Club alumnus is giving back to his fellow club members through a gift to the Glee Club Endowment that will help make Glee Club’s yearly costs more manageable for its members.

Glee Club director Chris Kiver detailed his “Dreams for the Glee Club,” which helped to inspire the challenge and fund five major costs for the group: uniforms, touring, music compositions, group retreats, and the annual Men of Song Festival. Kiver revealed these dreams to those present at the 125th anniversary reunion of the Glee Club last year.

After attending the reunion, Class of 1968 alumnus Mike Helms and his wife felt they could help those who needed financial assistance in these areas, and thus the Dream Matching Challenge was created. One can make a donation to the Glee Club Endowment between now and April 30 for the Dream Matching Challenge, and donations totaling up to $50,000 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Helms.

In the video below, Kiver explains the three different ways to donate to the Glee Club. The Glee Club of Today donation would be a donation that the group can use immediately, and The Glee Club of Tomorrow provides a fund for future members of the Glee Club. There is also an option for a multi-year pledge.

“The Glee Club has a beautifully unique mission,” Kiver said in the Dream Matching Challenge video, “as it unites young men from all disciplines, encourages student engagement, fosters a lifelong love for Penn State and music, and helps these young men to continue to develop into meaningful contributors to society.”

Glee Club will celebrate its 126th anniversary this year and is the oldest student organization at the university. The all-male performance group features students from different majors and backgrounds to perform classical choral pieces, including the Penn State Alma Mater.

Photo: Penn State Glee Glub