Paterno gives $3.5 mil. donation to Penn State

The Daily Collegian "I guess Joe has to work another 47 years so we can do it again," she said. The gift brings the Paternos' lifetime donations to the university to $4 million, said Penn State President Graham Spanier, including funding for an addition to Pattee. "They have chosen to support some of our most critical academic needs and visionary initiatives," Spanier said. Both Paternos have a degree in literature and said they wanted to contribute to the classics. And the fellowships in memory of their parents reflect their fathers' professions -- Angelo Paterno was a lawyer and August Pohland was an architect. The spiritual faith center is a project Sue Paterno has been working on constantly and the hall of fame is a project Joe Paterno said he feels strongly about. They also selected programs that needed financial help, Sue Paterno said. "I feel, as I read somewhere, to live the good life, we have to make sure that others have at least a decent life," Joe Paterno said to the trustees, who gave him a standing ovation. With all of their children out of college, except for one son in law school, and because of their modest lifestyle, the Paternos said they wanted to and could afford to give back to the community that had given them so much. "I never got into coaching to make money. I just wanted to take care of my family," Joe Paterno said. They both talked about how welcoming the community has been to their family. Over the years, the Paternos have tried to donate whatever they could, Sue Paterno, a Penn State graduate, explained.