Penn State football collective kicks off NIL fundraising campaign
Happy Valley United, the collective supporting Penn State football’s NIL, is launching a new fundraising campaign called “Retain the Roar.” Announcing the initiative on Thursday morning, the campaign is seeking to boost the collective’s coffers for the football program by $500,000.
And, it’s doing so with a match of up to $50,000 pledged by former Penn State linebacker Brad Bars. Now the owner of Creative Investments, a real estate development company in Nashville, Bars has committed to match the first $50,000 raised through the campaign.
“Penn State is a special place for me, and I am honored to give back to Coach Franklin and our football program,” Bars said. “If the entire Penn State community came together to support, we could have the best NIL program in the nation.”
Penn State pushes for NIL support
The initiative begins concurrent with the re-opening of the spring transfer portal window. In the first two days of portal action, Penn State has seen two players exit the program. They are wideouts KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Malick Meiga. No movement has yet been made in bringing transfer portal players into the program.
The effort is also being made with the partnership of State Media. It is the Penn State Lettermen-led social media organization fronted by former tight end Adam Breneman and quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Coming off a Blue-White Weekend event at Medlar Field on Penn State’s campus, the group is again working to educate and embolden Nittany Lion fans to give to the program’s NIL efforts.
“Strong NIL support is necessary to win championships at every school across the country and Penn State is no different,” said Hackenberg. “Alumni and fans who want Penn State in the playoff and national title conversations every season must get behind us and give to Retain The Roar. Every dollar counts and supports NIL opportunities for our current and future players. The time to give is now.”
Campaign details
Within the campaign, multiple giving levels have been established, with multiple giveaways attached to the campaign.
Available to win to all supporters are packages to Happy Valley Unite’s “We Are! at The Shore” event in July. Pre-game field passes for a 2024 home game at Beaver Stadium are available, too. Also available are four tickets and parking for a home game. And, four passes to the Nittany Lions’ 2025 Pro Day at Holuba Hall are up to win.
Additionally, all contributors at the “All-Conference” donating level of $1,000 and above will receive a “customized thank-you video” from a Penn State letterman.
More details on the campaign can be found here.
Talk about it with our premium members in the Lions Den, here!
