Evelyn and Jim Piazza recently announced another $50,000 gift to support Penn State’s Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research. The family’s donation will help fund continuous research focused on minimizing and preventing hazing incidents and behaviors.

The center was created in honor of Tim Piazza, Evelyn and Jim Piazza’s son, who died in a fraternity hazing incident in 2017. Since then, the family has been committed to spreading awareness, advocating for legislation, and expanding research to stop hazing.

“No student should be subjected to hazing or any other rituals that could be harmful or damaging to their physical or emotional health,” the Piazzas said in a statement. “We have seen firsthand what irresponsible hazing rituals can do to an individual and a family.”

Serving over 800 communities nationally, the Piazza Center is dedicated to improving the well-being of students by preventing hazing and substance abuse.

“The Piazzas’ commitments are enabling key research to support effective hazing prevention efforts, both at Penn State and nationwide,” Piazza Center Executive Director Stevan Veldkamp said in a release. “Our work is to avoid tragedies related to hazing by creating best practices and support for those working with these students closely based on research and understanding.”

To fund the center’s research, Penn State seeks to create an endowment of $8 million. The university has already donated $2 million and will match endowment funds up to $3 million. Matching is available until Tuesday, December 31.

For more information on the center and its research, visit the Piazza Center website.