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Penn Theta Raises $1,000,000 and Celebrates the Reopening of the 'Old Grey Barn'
Over one hundred Phi Psis plus friends and families gathered last month on Lafayette College's campus to dedicate the new 'Old Grey Barn,' Penn Theta's historic 1909 chapter house. Via the generosity of Penn Theta donors, the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation partnered with the Penn Theta House Corporation to complete the million-dollar restoration project by way of an educational facilities grant and loan from the Penn Theta Chapter Scholarship Fund. |
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Among the ceremony's highlights were speeches delivered by Capital Campaign Co-Chairman Roger Newton, Lafayette '69, and College President Daniel Weiss from the steps of the new front porches. The porches were removed over thirty years ago when the house was moved across campus to its present day March Field location and added back on to the house this summer as part of the million-dollar restoration project.
"This day came quicker than I thought, and it came as a result of the hard work of all the brothers," said Newton. "At 8:00 am on a Saturday morning 18 months ago, about 20 of the brothers were bright eyed and bushy tailed - ready to meet with me and talk about the future of Penn Theta. I was impressed with the men and what I heard... I knew from that moment forward I wanted to lead this campaign."
Doug Fish, Lafayette '98, and Jeff Gingerich, Lafayette '94, kicked off the fundraising several years ago as campaign committee co-chairs. With the help of Emperor Group's CRG Fundraising Division and Wade Garard, Executive Director of the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation, Penn Theta enlisted Decade Co-Chairs Newton, Fish, Gingerich, John Pierce Lafayette '78, Rob Lee, Lafayette '73, Jim Akerhielm, Lafayette '81, Mike Sutka, Lafayette '81, Bob Moss, Lafayette '54, Bill Turner, Lafayette '67, Ed Sager, Lafayette '66, Dave Roth, Lafayette '67, Bob Darbee, Lafayette '65 and Tom Marsella, Lafayette '03. The construction portion of the project was managed by Crouse, Pierce, Rob Glick, Lafayette '02 and Bill Faust, Lafayette '00.
"For all of us the dedication is immensely gratifying," Fish said. "We have succeeded in securing the future of the chapter house and with that, the future of the chapter, by providing a state-of-the-art living facility for the current brothers."
To date, alumni and friends of Penn Theta have donated over $1,038,000 to the Campaign for the Old Grey Barn. If you are interested in learning more or making a contribution please visit the Penn Theta Campaign website.
What do the Penn Theta undergraduate brothers think about the new Penn Theta. . . ..?
"It has been my great honor and privilege to join Phi Kappa Psi this year with such a group of great guys," said corresponding secretary Joey Haymaker, Lafayette '09, (Hellertown, Pa.), a double major in Spanish and business economics. "It is definitely an understatement to say that the brothers are looking forward to the future of Phi Psi in the redone house, and we cannot say enough about the generous support from our loyal alumni."
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