Announcing our Franco Harris Memorial FastStart Program Endowment

On February 21, we co-hosted an Open House at the newly dedicated Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State  where around 100 Penn Staters got to see the space named for our friend Franco and learn about all of the great work the Center does in Pittsburgh.  

We also had the honor of announcing our commitment to a first-of-its-kind endowment supporting the FastStart Program, which matches first-year students from underrepresented backgrounds with alumni and faculty/staff mentors to help get their college experience off to a “fast start”.  It will specifically support students at Penn State Greater Allegheny, where there are already 100 students enrolled in the program.  With Dana’s blessing, we’ve honored Franco’s passionate advocacy for the importance of mentorship by putting his name to it.  

Thanks to a matching contribution from the Penn State Alumni Association this $50,000 endowment will help provide the critical support needed for these at-risk students to thrive.