Dear Penn State Alumni and Friends,
To say these are unprecedented times is an understatement. The Orange County-Inland Empire Area Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association (OCIEA) meets monthly online to discuss ways to bring Penn State closer to you this year. We look forward to a future where we can reconnect in person. The health and safety of our members and those around us are foremost in our minds. It’s a challenge, but we are up to the task. We miss you and we hope you feel the same.
With the fall football schedule uncertain, we’ll have little opportunity to raise money for our Endowed Student Scholarship. We take great pride in the work we’ve done to award $10,000 every year to local students seeking to join the Penn State family. Those scholarships are from your contributions at football games, membership dues, and fundraising we do all year long. But this year will be a struggle.
These are not normal times.
We understand your financial challenges, too. But we’re asking for your help.
Think back on your time as a young adult and how something we’re all going through now would have impacted your college experience. Imagine not only the frustration of no high school graduation but also having an acceptance letter in your hand from Penn State and not knowing what the upcoming academic year holds. Imagine how it would have felt to be isolated from friends, professors, and classmates. Imagine not having the experiences that shaped some of your best memories of college.
There is something you can do to help.
Normally we start collecting Chapter Dues in July and throughout football season. While we may not be sharing the camaraderie of cheering on the Nittany Lions starting in September, we still desperately need membership dues and scholarship contributions to support our local students. We know how generous fans of Penn State are. Your financial support in the past has never wavered. We ask for your help now more than ever. Every little bit counts. All of it goes toward our scholarship program. By renewing your dues and sending-in scholarship donations you’re giving those students who chose Penn State over all other schools a chance. By continuing to support the Chapter, we can get through this without today’s PSU students being at a huge disadvantage over their predecessors.
As way to show our appreciation, we’ll have monthly prize drawings for those who have paid and renewed their memberships. Lifetime members qualify with a min. $20.00 donation, and local ‘20 graduates who sign up for our membership get their first year free!
You can submit dues payments or donations on our website or alternately, you can send a check payable to OCIEA-PSAA to the following address: c/o Bob Hunter, 18312 Lincoln Street, Villa Park, CA 92861
Please watch for emails inviting you to Zoom Trivia, Zoom Happy Hours and other events. For up-to-date news, please visit our website, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and join our Facebook group.
With so much change, now more than ever Penn State allows us to connect and find common bonds. Stay safe and thank you for caring & sharing. WE ARE! PENN STATE!
For the Glory,
Your Board of Directors, Orange County-Inland Empire Area Chapter of the PSAA
www.ocpsu.com
P.S. We also encourage you to join the Penn State Alumni Association page on Facebook for more news about the university and free presentations.