Athletic Philanthropy History
During its recent history, Penn State Harrisburg athletics has been the beneficiary of numerous philanthropic gifts, making possible the ongoing expansion and success of its NCAA Division III varsity programs.
Most recently, the college received generous donations from K&W Engineers and Lift Development that will be used to construct and enhance the school’s newest athletic facility; the multipurpose turf field adjacent to the Education Activities Building. The gift from K&W Engineers made possible the completion of construction, while Lift Development’s contribution made possible the installation of a 16 by 16 foot video scoreboard. The field will serve as the new home for the men’s and women’s soccer programs, with the scoreboard set to add to the overall fan experience.
In the spring of 2019, the men’s and women’s track & field program received tremendous news in the midst of the most successful season in its short history when Kent Whiting ’07 and the Whiting family bestowed a donation towards the building of the Whiting Family Throwing Complex. The gift makes possible the eventual construction of the first-ever track & field training facility on campus. The program has trained at off-site facilities since its inception in 2014.
The softball program recently witnessed an overhaul of its home facility thanks to the generosity of the Douglas W. Pollock Foundation. A large sum donated by the foundation allowed for the enhancement of the complex before a formal naming ceremony took place in 2018. That spring, Penn State Harrisburg officially renamed the facility the Courtney Pollock Memorial Softball Field. Renovations included the addition of a handicap accessible press box, the building of batting cages beyond the center field fence and the improvement of the backstop fencing behind home plate.
The first gift that made possible a sizable addition to the college’s facilities during the modern athletic era came when the Lawrence L. and Julia Z. Hoverter Charitable Foundation presented Penn State Harrisburg with one of the largest gifts in the school’s history. The foundation’s contribution led to the completion of construction on the Hoverter Tennis Complex in the fall of 2006. A top-notch, eight-court playing surface with lights, it has served as the home court of the men’s and women’s tennis programs for 15 seasons and it remains one of the top tennis facilities in the region.