Pittsburgh's jazz legacy celebrated: Oct. 16 "All That's Jazz" scholarship event

The Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board will host its seventh annual All That?s Jazz scholarship benefit on Saturday, October 16, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in Penn State Greater Allegheny?s Student Community Center. Proceeds will be added to the Penn State Greater Allegheny Student Scholarship Fund. Last year?s event collected over $54,000 for student scholarships.  In the last six years, All That?s Jazz has raised more than $264,000 for scholarships, allowing the university to extend support to many students and contributing to the kind of environment that makes Penn State Greater Allegheny campus a unique place to pursue an education. LIVE Auction items can be found here!

Event Chair Mark R. Gruskin and the All That?s Jazz Committee are planning an exciting evening. This year?s entertainment will feature the musical greatness of Pittsburgh?s Jazz Legacy and include performers Ben E. Benack, Jr., Ben E Benak, III, Roger Humphries, Max Leak, Jr., Dave Pellow, and Mark Strickland. Guests will enjoy delicious Southern-style food with a soulful flair, a Live Auction and the Blue & White ?mystery? auction.

Approximately three-quarters of Penn State students receive some sort of financial aid.  About one-half of the students enrolled at the campus represent the first generation in their family to attend college and many depend on grants, loans, and scholarships to pay for their education.

?Scholarship funds have become increasingly important to our students and their families. These funds can make the difference between students staying in college or having to make some hard decisions about their futures,? said Penn State Greater Allegheny Chancellor, Curtiss E. Porter, Ph.D.

Providing assistance to Mark R. Gruskin, president of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board,  and event chair are Amy Michaliszyn and Jan Pokrifka, auction co-chairs; Nancy Seifert and David Pellow, entertainment co-chairs; Bill Flanagan, Master of Ceremonies; and Nancy Traina, Capital Campaign Committee Chair. These volunteers are supported by Advisory Board members, community leaders, alumni, friends, faculty and staff?all working to make the event a success.

The event encompasses many levels of sponsorship.  Title Sponsors for this year?s event are Amy and Dave Michaliszyn.  Nancy Seifert is a Benefactor and the underwriter for all of the decorations and the entertainment.  Patron sponsors are Mark R. Gruskin, Johnston the Florist, and Wabtec Corporation.    Chancellor?s Circle members are Dorothy and Ed Datemasch, Eat?n Park Hospitality Group, Margaret Signorella, Ph.D., Curtiss E. Porter, Ph.D., Resource Development and Management, Inc., Specialty Steel Products, Inc., Nancy and John Traina, and Clifford and Barbara Wise. Ambassadors are Lou Anne Caligiuri, Sally Cunningham, Grane Healthcare, Inc., Michelle G. Hough, D.Sc., McKeesport Hospital Foundation, Charlene and Kirk Urey.  Supporters are The Honorable Cynthia A. and Arthur L. Baldwin, Pastor Earlene Colemen, Linda Croushore, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Flanagan, Andy Holtz and Laura Rundell, Jendoco Corporation, Karen Kutzer, David J. Pasternak and H.B. South Printing, Inc.

The public is invited to join in the festivities to help support the Penn State Greater Allegheny Scholarship Fund. Guests can enjoy a cool couch, seated near the performance stage for $125 per ticket.  General Admission tickets are $100 each or $900 for a table of ten.  Information on tickets, sponsorships and the auctions can be obtained by calling the Penn State Greater Allegheny Office of Institutional Advancement at 412-675-9048.

Auction services are being donated by ?86 PSU Football Team Member Skip Dreibebis, founder of True Blue Auctions.