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Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine celebrate successful fundraising year

More than 180,000 donors helped Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine surpass its fiscal year 2024 fundraising goal, contributing more than $60.4 million in gifts and commitments between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. This is a 23% increase over the total raised in fiscal year 2023.

These gifts support the college and health system’s mission to improve health through patient care, education, research and community outreach. The Penn State Health and College of Medicine totals contributed to the University’s overall fundraising success over the past year.

“Penn State Health is a stronger organization thanks to philanthropic support. The fundraising success of the past year and growth in the amount of support demonstrates that generous friends believe in our mission, and we are honored and inspired by their investment in our work. Gifts from community organizations, grateful patients, dedicated employees and others create opportunities that will change lives,” said Steve Massini, chief executive officer of Penn State Health.

Fundraising highlights during Penn State Health and the College of Medicine’s fiscal year 2024 included:

  • Faculty, staff, alumni and community partners gave $5.9 million in response to a variety of regular appeals and special campaigns, including systemwide efforts such as the Give From the Heart, Flags of Honor and No Shave November campaigns.
  • In celebration of St. Joseph Medical Center’s 150th anniversary, donors contributed more than $100,000 through the 2023 Golf Tournament and Charity Ball to support the acquisition of new medical equipment and technology needs at the hospital. Among the vital upgrades made possible through anniversary-year gifts was a new Beckman Coulter DxA 5000 system that increases fivefold the capacity of the powerhouse clinical testing lab at the medical center.
  • Nearly 150,000 donors rallied again last year to contribute more than $24.5 million to support Four Diamonds, including gifts through THONTM, Mini-THON® and community fundraisers.
  • The 40th annual Children’s Miracle Network Hershey Telethon raised $361,528.43 to benefit equipment, programs and research at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
  • In recognition of their extraordinary gift to Holy Spirit Medical Center, the hospital’s main entrance was renamed the Hersha H. and Hasu P. Shah Main Entrance.
  • Eight new endowments and named annual funds were established to support faculty and resident education or professional development and research in areas such as congenital heart disease, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, pediatric cardiology, psychiatry, public health sciences and spinal cord injury.
  • Donors committed a total of $11.8 million to advance basic science, clinical and translational research – $1 million more than the fiscal year 2023 total.
  • Karen Kim, dean of the College of Medicine, and her husband, Dr. Randy Chang, an anesthesiologist with Penn State Health Medical Group, committed to giving $250,000 over the next five years to establish an endowed scholarship as well as a challenge gift fund to encourage additional donors to follow their lead. Since the challenge began, 11 new endowed scholarship funds have been established, with commitments totaling $925,000.

“As I get to know our generous community of philanthropic partners—including faculty, staff and alumni—I am confident that working together, we will further enhance the college’s status as a world-class institution and educate the leaders who will transform the future of medicine. From providing opportunities through scholarships to supporting the innovative research of our scientists, philanthropy brings our vision to life,” said Dr. Kim.

Fundraising for the College of Medicine and Penn State Health is led by Kelly Altland, associate vice president and chief development officer, and her team in the Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

“Exceeding our fundraising goal this year was truly a team effort. We are grateful to our colleagues throughout the College of Medicine and Penn State Health who not only shared their time, expertise and passion to help us attract and engage donors, but who themselves chose to support us philanthropically. We hope you share our pride in all we have accomplished together,” said Altland.

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