UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and the Nittany Lion Club have launched a new initiative – IMPACT 31. The 31 varsity programs at Penn State share a common vision to prepare students for a lifetime of impact. The purpose of this new initiative is to encourage and inspire alumni and fans to make charitable gifts to the Levi Lamb Fund which supports the Nittany Lions' 800 students.
Penn State alumni and fans are encouraged to: Make a Gift… Post a Pic… Make an Impact... A vibrant social media presence is expected to play a significant role in the promotion and execution of IMPACT 31.
"One of Penn State's greatest points of difference has always been our strength in numbers," said Sandy Barbour, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "We're asking our passionate and loyal alumni, students and fans to help spread the #IMPACT31 message on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We know there are more Penn Staters who share our passion for preparing students for a lifetime of impact, and social media can help us reach them."
Alumni and fans interested in participating in IMPACT 31 are encouraged to do the following:
- MAKE A GIFT – Alumni and fans can visit www.IMPACT31.com or call 1-800 NITTANY to make a charitable gift to the Levi Lamb Fund.
- POST A PIC – Using #IMPACT31, fans are encouraged to join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, showing their passion and support for the Nittany Lions while spreading the message to their social media friends.
- MAKE AN IMPACT – alumni, students and fans that support this initiative join a powerful group of Penn State supporters and help create transformational opportunities for our student-athletes on all 31 teams to succeed in the classroom and on the field, preparing them for a lifetime of impact.
To help launch this initiative, the first 2,000 photos submitted using #IMPACT31 will be used to create a photo mosaic. The #IMPACT31 Photo Mosaic uses special technology to arrange the 2,000 pictures submitted through social media in a way that creates a larger Penn State image.
Fans are encouraged to visit the #IMPACT31 Photo Mosaic live at the Blue-White Boardwalk at Fan Fest this Saturday, April 13 before and during the Blue-White Game (3 p.m. kick). Photos can be submitted all week or during the Blue-White Game, while space is available.
Through IMPACT 31, charitable gifts of any amount are welcomed and appreciated by Penn State Athletics, while all gifts qualify donors for Nittany Lion Club benefits, including NLC Priority Points. All contributions to the Levi Lamb fund support Nittany Lion student-athletes through scholarships, academic support, medical costs, program support and nutrition, which are among the student-athletes' greatest needs. As costs to provide the student-athlete experience increase each year, Penn State must fund all 31 teams without any financial support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, tuition dollars or student fees. The resources generated through IMPACT 31 are critical in helping to prepare students for a lifetime of impact.
"Supporting student-athletes through the IMPACT 31 initiative makes a powerful statement about the commitment, passion and loyalty Penn Staters have for their Nittany Lions," says Joe Foley, Sr. Associate Athletic Director for Advancement. "Further, the resources this program generates will play a critical role in providing our students with the resources they need to be successful as athletes, students and community leaders."
Support from alumni, fans and students have helped Penn State rank among the nation's premier athletic departments, tied for third nationally with 21 NCAA Championships since 2007.
The more than 24,000 Nittany Lion Club members make possible grant-in-aid support for approximately 800 Penn State student-athletes each year and provide funds for comprehensive excellence.
For information about joining the Nittany Lion Club, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit IMPACT31.com.
Penn State Among the Nation's Most Comprehensive and Successful Athletic Programs
Under the leadership of Vice President of Athletics Sandy Barbour, Penn State has one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 800 student-athletes across 31 varsity programs (16 men's, 15 women's).
Nittany Lion students have posted an NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 90 percent the past two years, which ties Penn State's all-time high. Eight teams earned a 100 percent graduation rate in the 2018 NCAA Graduation Rates Report. The Nittany Lions rank No. 4 among all Division I schools with 204 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans all-time, including women's soccer student-athletes Ogle and Kerry Abello and football student-athlete Blake Gillikin during the fall semester.
Penn State's 51 NCAA Championships all-time (79 national championships overall) rank No. 5 among all NCAA Division I programs and are the highest total of any college or university east of the Mississippi River. Penn State's 32 NCAA titles since 1992-93, including a fourth consecutive NCAA Wrestling Championship, lead all Big Ten Conference institutions. The Nittany Lions have won 111 Big Ten championships or tournament titles since capturing their first crown in 1992-93, including men's gymnastics on April 5.