Penn State Altoona Advisory Board gifts $243,000 to support infrastructure

ALTOONA, Pa. - In an effort to support academic programs housed at Penn State Altoona's downtown campus, the college's Advisory Board has gifted $243,000, procured through fundraising, to be used for building infrastructure.

The Penn State Altoona Advisory Board consults with and advises the chancellor and administrative officers of Penn State Altoona on policies and programs that may serve the college. Members include leaders from a variety of fields including government and industry. The board acts as an intermediary between Penn State Altoona and the community and assists and actively participates in the raising and disbursement of funds for the improvement of the physical plant, the equipment, and the services of Penn State Altoona.

This gift will be used for repairs on building and sidewalk structure of the Penn and Aaron Buildings along 12th Avenue. The work is scheduled to begin within the next few months.

"The advisory board has been part of the fabric of Penn State Altoona's growth for many years," said Brian Durbin, advisory board chair. "It is with great pride and honor that we can continue that growth on our downtown campus. It is our commitment to help Penn State Altoona evolve and thrive in our community."

In 1999, the college added its first location in downtown Altoona with the leasing of the Downtown Conference Center, formerly the Playhouse Theater. The center was purchased by the college in 2005 and rededicated in 2007 as the Devorris Downtown Center to honor the philanthropy of local entrepreneur Donald Devorris and his wife, Nancy.

The Aaron Building was acquired in 2007 by the college and the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation, paving the way for the college to provide multi-campus course offerings. The building was renovated and now includes state-of-the-art facilities devoted to the nursing and communications programs, as well as faculty offices for the college's accounting and business programs.

Acquired by the college in 2015, the Penn Building, adjacent to the Aaron Building, includes classrooms, labs, offices and student lounges in support of programs such as accounting, business, cybersecurity and analytics operations, information technology, security and risk analysis and rail transportation engineering.

"This gift from the advisory board is an extraordinary show of confidence in Penn State Altoona and the students who study here," stated Renata Engel, interim vice president for Commonwealth Campuses. "The Aaron Building is where future business leaders, communications professionals and nurses take their next steps. By supporting these spaces, the Advisory Board is directly helping students thrive while also reinforcing the campus's role as a cornerstone of downtown Altoona."

The board's gift is not just an investment in infrastructure; it's an investment in the future of Penn State.

"Penn State Altoona is lucky indeed to have an advisory board with clear vision and boundless hope in the rich future of the campus," said Ron Darbeau, chancellor and dean of Penn State Altoona and associate vice president for Commonwealth Campuses. "Their support in time, counsel, expertise and fiscal resources has been dependable for many years. This latest investment is deeply appreciated in advancing the interests of the campus and illustrative of their stalwart support of, and belief in, Penn State Altoona."

Gifts like this commitment from the Penn State Altoona Advisory Board advance the University's historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University's impact for families, patients and communities across the Commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.