More Than Money

University endowments are established for many reasons, usually including a passion for Penn State, a desire to pay forward, and recognition of the life-changing impact of financial aid from a total stranger who has no expectation of repayment. There’s one more force driving philanthropy: personal experience.
This is Jenn DiVittorio’s story:

The horrific pain and ugliness of neurodegenerative diseases impact nearly everyone in some way. My parents were diagnosed within a year of each other with terminal neurodegenerative diseases, both at a young age. My Mom’s diagnosis: Alzheimer's. My Dad initially kept his diagnosis a secret, wanting the focus to be on my Mom. When he shared his Parkinson's diagnosis, we were initially optimistic. Hope faded as he lost the ability to smile, speak, hug, walk, or control his movements. Although his mind remained sharp, his body failed. We grieved a thousand different deaths for my Dad. My Mom remains physically, cognitively, and emotionally paralyzed. It is not possible here to fully convey the difficult truths of this journey, yet I am convinced that the collective actions and stories of so many loved ones, on behalf of so many beloved patients, will lead to breakthroughs.

My family has close ties to Penn State. I had no connection to science until my parents’ diagnoses and then, the Eberly College of Science was the obvious choice as my vehicle for meaningful change. With the help of benefactors, mentors, and forward-thinking academics, hard-working students will one day unlock the cures – or at the very least, better assist patients and families who are so devastated by these diseases. I decided to be part of that future. To honor my parents and pay forward their unconditional love and support, I established the Mark and Sharon Robb Research Fund in the Eberly College of Science.