students dressed up holding big check

14th Annual All That's Jazz Scholarship Benefit set for October 14th

Penn State Greater Allegheny will celebrate 14 years of great jazz music, delicious food, fun, and fellowship at the 14th annual All That’s Jazz Scholarship Benefit.

The events will be held Saturday, October 14 in the Student Community Center on campus. 

More than $1 million has been raised for scholarships in the past 13 years through All That’s Jazz.

Rumors are buzzing around campus that this year’s event is going to be especially fun with employees even planning to dress the era – in flapper-style dresses, hair feathers, and gangster hats. 

man singing and man playing saxophone

Guests at All That's Jazz Scholarship Benefit will enjoy the sounds of the Benny Benack Big Band and Benny Benack III and his NYC Quartet.

Credit: Penn State

The event promises to be thrilling with three different auctions, amazing food, and talented musicians. The crowd will surely get up and dance to the music featuring returning favorite Benny Benack III and his NYC Quartet with a preview of his recently released debut recording, "One of A Kind."  Also, the Benny Benack Big Band, with Benny III on vocals, will perform. 

“Scholarship money raised at All That’s Jazz is so important in enabling our students to complete their education. The majority of students at Penn State Greater Allegheny require some type of financial aid.  We hope that the community will come out and help us continue our tradition of providing support for our students,” said Laura King, campus director of development.  

Keitha is a second-year student from Brooklyn, New York. Majoring in psychology, she aspires to be a supreme court judge with a focus on family law. She is a Resident Assistant, which, in addition to scholarships, helps her pay her tuition. Keitha is vice president of the Student Government Association and juggles her schoolwork, volleyball, and a job at the cafe. Keitha has traveled on mission trips to Mexico and Haiti.  Keitha was overjoyed and relieved to receive a scholarship. "I was beginning to think I wouldn’t be able to come back to school this year when the scholarship came though. It meant everything to me. It was such a blessing."

David, from North Huntingdon, Pa., is a sophomore who intends to major in software engineering.  He was accepted into Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College, a program for students of exceptional ability.   He is a member of the Lion Ambassadors, a group of academically successful students who help to promote the campus.  David has volunteered extensively, fixing up a school for children with disabilities.   He works as a technician in the IT help desk on campus.  David says, “Scholarships enable me to pay for classes, which I hope to use to make a difference in the world. I'm afraid that without scholarships I would not have been able to make the connections and relationships that are allowing me to grow here at Penn State.”

The community has already begun to support this year’s All That’s Jazz.  UPMC McKeesport has pledged $5,000 as a Gold Sponsor of the event.

man playing trumpet

Benny Benack III will perform at the 14th Annual All That's Jazz Scholarship Benefit.

Credit: Penn State

All That’s Jazz will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, at the Penn State Greater Allegheny Student Community Center, 4000 University Drive, McKeesport. The public is invited to join in the festivities to help support student scholarships. Tickets are $125 each or 10 for $1,000.

Information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities can be obtained by calling (412) 675-9071.