Philanthropy
New Endowment Established in Honor of Former Dean and Department Head
An
anonymous donor recently contributed $50,000 to establish the Neil H. Porterfield Endowment
for the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, honoring the former head of the Department of Landscape
Architecture (1985–1993), dean of the College of Arts and Architecture (1993–2000) and Penn State
alumnus (’58 B.S. L.Arch.). This endowment will support programs that promote interdisciplinary studies
in architecture and landscape architecture, including visiting lecturers and student trips to professional
offices.
Highlighting the purpose of the endowment, architecture and landscape architecture faculty and students will work together, through an appointed committee, to select the speakers and the professional offices where students will visit. They will be chosen on the basis of extensive, respected professional practice in architecture or landscape architecture, with preference given to those individuals and offices that demonstrate successful interdisciplinary collaboration.
Jaffes Establish Two Endowments to Benefit Visual and Performing Arts
William (’60 B.A. Journalism) and Honora “Honey” Jaffe, longtime Penn State donors and dedicated volunteers, recently established a Charitable Remainder Unitrust, which includes two endowments that will benefit the College of Arts and Architecture’s University Arts Services. The Honey and Bill Jaffe Endowment for Audience Development for the Center for the Performing Arts will provide monies to develop new audiences for the center’s long-term benefit. The Honey and Bill Jaffe Endowment for the Palmer Museum of Art will provide funds to conserve and preserve the museum’s permanent art collection and acquire works of art in need of restoration.
Bill Jaffe heads The Jaffe Group, a State College-based human resources consulting firm. Before forming The Jaffe Group, he spent 28 years with two international consulting companies, Towers Perrin and Alexander & Alexander, and served as an adjunct associate professor of management science at The George Washington University. Bill and Honey are both active volunteers in the University and State College communities. Honey serves on the board of the Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art and previously served several terms on the Center for the Performing Arts’ Community Advisory Council. Also, she docents at the Centre Furnace Mansion and is on the board of the Nittany Valley Symphony Guild. Bill is a member of the boards of Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Centre County United Way, Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, Knight Foundation Community Advisory Council and Centre County Community Foundation. He is president of the board of the College of Communications Alumni Society.
Landscape Architecture Alumni Honor Jones and Battaglia
The Landscape Architecture Class of 1980 has made a $100,000 gift to establish the Jones-Battaglia Faculty Research Studio in the new Stuckeman Family Building, in honor of retired landscape architecture faculty members Daniel R. Jones, professor emeritus, and Mark A. Battaglia, professor emeritus.
Robert E. Fenza (’80 B.Ph.) contributed the lead gift of $50,000, with numerous other class members contributing outright gifts and pledges toward the remaining balance to fund the building space.
The gift was announced at the Class of 1980 reunion held in April 2004, where Brian Orland, head of the Department of Landscape Architecture, recognized the two professors for their contributions to not only Penn State and its students, but also the people of Pennsylvania. He noted that both Jones and Battaglia have played important roles in protecting and preserving the state’s rivers. They have conducted numerous Scenic River studies for the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, examining Penns Creek, Beech Creek and the Juniata River, among others. In addition, thanks to their efforts, the Clarion River was established as a National Wild and Scenic River.
Building dedication activities for the Stuckeman Family Building for the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture will take place September 18–24, 2005. Watch for further information in the spring 2005 issue of this newsletter.
Endowment Funds Piano Competition for High School Students
click on photo to open a new window
with the full image and caption
Edith
Garcia and Dr. Marian Garcia have established the Marian Garcia Piano Program
Support Endowment to enhance educational and performance opportunities for young piano players through
an annual piano competition. The first Marian Garcia Piano Competition was held this past spring, with
Penn State music faculty serving as judges for high school-age pianists.
Six performers from four states competed, playing on either a new Steinway or a new Bosendorfer, both among the world’s best pianos. Junior Division (10th grade) winners were Christy (Jinshil) Yi, of Colonial Heights, Va. (first place), and Jennifer Hsu, of Cherry Hill, N.J. (second place). In the Senior Division (11th grade), two performers tied for first place: Ronald Huang, of Plainshore, N.J., and Jessica Shao, of East Brunswick, N.J. The winners split a prize of $1,000.
