Penn State is participating in #GivingTuesday, a trend created in 2012 on social media to kick off the season of giving. All day, students, faculty, staff, and alumni are encouraged to give at campuses across the commonwealth and communities across the world in support of the accomplishments of Penn Staters.

Students can stop by the HUB on Tuesday anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to celebrate and give to some of the programs at Penn State that work to better both our community and the world outside State College. During that time, Alcoa will match any student contribution. Likewise, Pepsi will match gifts given to the Golden Lion Campaign scholarship.

Penn State alumni, parents, friends, and fans can donate online and choose between different causes. Those who wish to donate have the option to give to scholarships, student life, faculty, research, and a more general “colleges, campuses, and programs.” Here’s some of the more specific options:

1. Penn State Libraries: “Thanks to the generosity of the Penn State Bookstore, managed by Barnes & Noble, your gift to the Textbook Fund in the University Libraries will be matched one to one up to $10,000 — for a total of $20,000. This fund will help us to purchase more textbooks for students — saving Penn Staters the often significant expense of having to buy them on their own. And by supporting the Libraries, you will express your pride and belief in maintaining the Libraries as an essential and transformative part of the Penn State experience.”
2. Mont Alto: “Community members Craig and Page Nitterhouse and Matt and Tana Oyer are matching every gift to any one of Penn State Mont Alto’s 12 varsity athletic teams or its cheerleading club, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $12,000. Penn State Mont Alto’s student-athletes are tremendous competitors and in order to properly maintain and enhance campus facilities and equipment, we need to build new support. Now is the time to do it.”
3. Penn State Athletics — “WE ARE one family whose support for the team doesn’t end when the clock runs out. Penn State Athletics is challenging Nittany Lions fans to make a gift to either the Levi Lamb or Morgan Academic Center, and to be one of at least 300 people to show their support for the athletic and academic needs of our student-athletes on #GivingTuesday. Those who make a gift of $50 or more will receive double the standard amount of Nittany Lion Club points for their contribution.” Those who donate to the Penn State Athletics #GivingTuesday Campaign and give a gift of $50 or more will receive double the standard amount of Nittany Lion Club points if they use the official website.

OrderUp is also joining in on the fun — for every order placed on Monday and Tuesday, the company will donate a meal to Feeding America. So even if you cannot donate online or at the HUB, ordering your lunch through the delivery service can serve just as well.

“Whether it’s making a gift to an area of the University that’s meaningful to you, volunteering, or simply sharing your enthusiasm for the thinkers and innovators whose journeys start here, I encourage you to participate in #GivingTuesday,” President Barron said in an email to the Penn State community.

Join the worldwide effort to give thanks by giving back by giving to something truly close to home: Penn State.