STATE COLLEGE — Centre County United Way will hold a fundraiser involving rappelling down the side of Beaver Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 8. CCUW has partnered with Over the Edge, to give people a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and raise money for the community.
United Way is an organization that works directly with organizations that help people, like the American Red Cross, Centre Safe, State College Food Bank and more.
“We focus on what we consider the building blocks for a healthy successful life — health, education and financial stability,” said Ja Nae Wian, campaign and relationship manager at CCUW
Wian explained that Centre County United Way was introduced to Over the Edge when it came to State College eight years prior when it came to benefit another nonprofit. Due to Over the Edge’s uniqueness they put in a request to work with them and when they became available, CCUW jumped at the chance to work with them.
Over the Edge is an organization that provides events for nonprofit organizations. Its unique way of fundraising caught the residents of Centre County’s interest, and over 25 people have been raising money to rappel down the side of Beaver Stadium. To go over the edge, fundraisers must raise $1,500 or more.
Leslie Laing, director for Adult Learner Programs and Services and an academic life coach at Penn State University, is currently the top fundraiser for the Over the Edge fundraiser, raising just over $3,100 as of Friday, Sept. 27. Laing discussed that many aspects of the event that intrigued her.
“I attend and donate to the United Way events from time to time, so I receive the Summer Support Scoop from the United Way email and noted the announcement for this unique fundraiser,” Laing said.
Laing started accepting donations a little late. However, as an active member of the Centre County community, she was still able to raise enough money to participate in the fundraiser.
“With less than 90 days to fundraise, I set a smart goal weekly and began calling, emailing and I posted a few times on social media,” Laing explained.
Over the Edge allows its participants to rappel without having had any experience. They provide a demonstration of how to rappel before the start of the fundraiser and along with this, they have professionals around while participants’ rappel.
“I am super excited to push my personal boundaries in a way that presents awareness to the asset-limited, income-constrained employed populations in Centre County,” said Laing.
Asset-limited, income-constrained employed populations, commonly referred to as ALICE, describes people who are working one or multiple jobs but are still struggling to make ends meet.
Proceeds from the Over the Edge fundraiser will go toward the ALICE population in Centre County.
“17% of households in Centre County are living below the federal poverty guideline, so about 47% of our neighbors are struggling to afford basic needs,” Wian said.
