A great jazz legacy will be celebrated with former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Craig Wolfley lending his support to raising funds for student scholarships at the ninth annual "All That's Jazz" fundraiser at Penn State Greater Allegheny, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27.
The event will be held at the Penn State Greater Allegheny Student Community Center, 4000 University Drive, McKeesport. All proceeds will be added to the Penn State Greater Allegheny Scholarship Fund, so guests will be contributing to students' success as they dine, dance and enjoy the jazz.
For the fourth consecutive year, Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board member Bill Flanagan will serve as emcee.
Wolfley will provide entertainment, insight and humor during the reverse auction and live auction portions of the evening. Wolfley played for 10 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was recently selected as a member of the Steelers All-Century Team, voted by fans as a ?team? of the best players to ever wear a Steelers uniform. He is heard weekly as a sports commentator on the WDVE 102.5 FM morning show.
This year?s theme is "Legacy," focusing on ?the old meeting the new.? The menu will include both old favorites and new gourmet cuisine.
The evening?s featured entertainment is jazz music. Jazz legend Benny Benack Jr. and his band mates will lead the show. Throughout the performance, individual band members will be replaced by new musicians, eventually showcasing Benny Benack III, recent and youngest ever winner of the International Trumpet Guild Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition, along with his quintet representing the new young lions of jazz, direct from New York City
?The vast majority, 91 percent, of students at Penn State Greater Allegheny are eligible for student aid," said Penn State Greater Allegheny Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter. "In these tough economic times, scholarship funds are increasingly important to our students and their families. The funds raised at 'All That?s Jazz' can make the difference between students staying in college or having to make some hard decisions about their futures."
Since 2004, "All That?s Jazz" has raised nearly $500,000 for the Penn State Greater Allegheny Scholarship Fund.
Event chair Clifford Wise, president of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board, and the "All That?s Jazz" committee are planning an evening of classic jazz, delicious food, a live auction, a silent theme auction, and the popular Blue and White mystery auction. Auction items will include a week?s stay at Kiawah Island and an autographed Franco Harris football.
Penn State alumnus Skip Dreibelbis and Edward ?Ed? Plachecki of True Blue Auctions in State College, Pa., will provide live auction services at this year?s event. This is the third consecutive year that Dreibelbis has auctioneered at the event.
The public is invited to join in the festivities to help support student scholarships. Tickets are $100 each or ten for $900. Information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities can be obtained by calling 412-675-9048.