Beiswenger Family Raises Money Through Social Networking

On the Deck of Maddie’s Restaurant in Malvern, Pennsylvania, friends and family mingled, played card games, and enjoyed donated food while reminiscing of the times they spent with Jared Beiswenger. When Jared unexpectedly died on May 18, 2008, his family wanted a way to keep his name alive. As a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, the family decided to create the Jared R. Beiswenger Memorial Endowment Fund in honor of the four years at Pitt that Jared cherished.

After many suggestions on how to raise money for the newborn endowment fund, the family decided on a Beef N’ Beer in honor of Jared’s love for a really good party. Facebook’s help was then enlisted to advertise for the event.

“I never thought that Facebook would ever become such a great way to get in touch with so many different people. I was able to contact many of my brother's friends from high school, college and work….I was very excited to receive such a great response when I created the “Cause” group through Facebook. It really became the easiest way to let a large number of people know about the scholarship fund and the event my family and I were planning,” said Rachel Beiswenger, Jared’s little sister.

Thanks to the help of Facebook and a flyer that Jared’s mother, Janet, created, over 200 people attended the event. Tickets were sold in advance and at the door for $30 a piece and a 50/50 raffle raised $1,000 when the winner of the raffle donated his half to the cause. In the end, over $8,000 was raised for the endowment fund, which pushed the scholarship’s worth over the $10,000 goal that the family had hoped to raise in the first year.

Janet Beiswenger said it was especially touching that so many of Jared’s Delta Phi fraternity brothers traveled all the way from Western Pennsylvania to attend the event. The boys played Jared’s favorite card game, Euchre, in his remembrance.

“It is hard to put into words how much it means to us to have the support of so many wonderful people. The way that people show support is simply amazing and we are humbled by their generosity.  We have a huge hole in our hearts where Jared lives, but the love and support of others helps us fill that hole,” said Janet Beiswenger.

The Jared R. Beiswenger Endowment Fund will be awarded as a tuition scholarship to a student entering the University of Pittsburgh.

“My personal hopes are that the scholarship will benefit a student who is just as excited about receiving an education from Pitt as my brother was. Jared could never say enough good things about Pitt, and I just hope that the students that benefit from his scholarship know how much he enjoyed attending Pitt and how much all of his family and friends love him,” said Rachel Beiswenger.