Courtesy of The Centre Daily Times
STATE COLLEGE – A late broadcasting journalist and good friend, Pat Boland; whom died too young in life from cancer in 2011, is being remembered with a scholarship fund that has been setup in his honor.
The 1991 Penn State graduate worked for various local radio stations over two decades. He was well-known for his work on Penn State football Saturdays on Forever Broadcasting channels.
Shortly after his death, friends launched a campaign to raise $20,000 to establish an endowment at Penn State to assist broadcast majors.
Tony Ricciardi, program director for 93.7 FM The Bus, said about $5,000 has been raised to date.
“I think we’re going to take a good chunk out of that (remaining $15,000) this weekend,” Ricciardi said.
A silent auction will be held during Saturday’s Penn State- Illinois football game at Damon’s restaurant on College Avenue in State College.
Up for bid will be Bruce Springsteen concert tickets, a Bill O’Brien autographed football, a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey autographed by goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, an Evgeni Malkin signed puck and numerous other pieces of memorabilia.
“A lot of people in the community contributed items,” Ricciardi said.
On Sunday, a “Putts For Pat” mini-golf outing will be held at Happy Valley Mini Golf on South Atherton Street across from the Hills Plaza in State College. The event will run from noon to 6 p.m., with prizes available around the course.
The cost to play will be $20 for adults and $5 for children.
“We just hope it’s good weather and a lot of people come out,” Ricciardi said.
Both events are open to the public.
Also on Saturday, pregame and postgame shows on The Bus and ESPN 1450 will be broadcast live from Damon’s. The pregame show will start at 11 a.m.
The restaurant will donate a portion of its proceeds Saturday to the Boland fund, Ricciardi said.
Jabco-Maggi Mitsubishi is making a contribution to the scholarship fund from cars sold at the dealership in August.
For more information or to make a donation to the fund, visit www.patbolandscholarship.com on the Internet or go to the Pat Boland Memorial Internship Award page on Facebook.
