Penn State has received an eight-figure donation toward the $700 million Beaver Stadium renovation project, the athletic department announced on Wednesday.
The $25 million gift from longtime supporters the Misitano family and PAM Health is the second largest in the history of Penn State Athletics, behind only the $102 million from Terry and Kim Pegula for the varsity hockey programs and Pegula Ice Arena.
“We are so very grateful to the Misitano family and PAM Health for their generous gift to the Beaver Stadium Revitalization project,” Patrick Kraft, vice president for intercollegiate athletics, said in a statement. “The Misitano family has a long history with Penn State Athletics and has been unbelievably supportive of a number of sports programs, and this tremendous Founders Gift is another example of their devotion to Penn State. Words cannot express the appreciation we have for the Misitano family and PAM Health for their commitment to be leaders in this important project to make Beaver Stadium even more iconic than it already is.”
Donations of $10 million or more toward the project are dubbed “Founders Gifts” and will be recognized in a plaza outside the stadium upon completion, which is scheduled for the summer of 2027.
The Misitanos and PAM Health will also be recognized with the naming of the planned new West Tower, according to a news release. The tower will include a welcome center, expanded concourses with views of the field, private luxury suites, loge boxes and two separate club seat areas with lounge access, as well as more than 59,000 square feet of public event space.
Anthony and Catherine Misitano and their daughter, Brittany, are longtime Penn State football fans and suite holders.
Anthony Misitano, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State in 1977 and 1981, respectively, is the founder and CEO of PAM Health, which is based in Enola and provides post-acute care services. Catherine Misitano is the CEO of Life Saver CPR, Inc., which trains people in immediate CPR and rapid defibrillation. Brittany Misitano is a 2015 Penn State graduate who serves as president of PAM Health.
“The Misitano family and PAM Health have placed us in an extraordinary position with this generous lead gift for the Beaver Stadium Revitalization,” Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement. “The Misitano family’s understanding of Beaver Stadium’s significance to our campus and community, as well as the broader importance of football and intercollegiate athletics as the front door to our institution for so many, is truly inspiring. I am deeply grateful to the Misitano family for their remarkable generosity and leadership in supporting the Beaver Stadium Revitalization, which will uphold Penn State’s unwavering commitment to excellence on and off the field and positively impact the local economy for many years to come.”
Penn State’s Board of Trustees approved up to $700 million for the Beaver Stadium project, which the athletic department says will preserve the venue’s history while modernizing it to improve fan experience and make it a year-round facility.
The project is slated to include improved circulation, new restrooms, upgraded concession offerings, Wi-Fi, amenities and more premium seating options that university officials say are key to generating revenue. The main focus of the renovations is on the west side of the stadium.
Initial work got underway this spring and summer and includes winterization, restroom improvements, increased concessions, a new south end zone video board, new ribbon boards and expansion and enhancements of three gate entries.
Future phases of the renovation will begin following the 2024 season and continue into the first half of 2027.
