UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (4/18/24) — Happy Valley United, the NIL collective supporting all 31 teams and more than 800 Penn State student-athletes, is partnering with State Media to launch Retain The Roar, a fundraising campaign to raise $500,000 to ensure championship-level talent on the Penn State Football roster. State Media, an athlete-driven Penn State content network co- led by Adam Breneman and Christian Hackenberg, will promote the campaign and generate Penn State lettermen support.
Penn State fans can give to Retain The Roar here — happyvalleyunited.com/retaintheroar
Tuesday, April 16 marked the opening of the transfer portal for Division I football in the spring window. In a new era of college athletics that requires exceptional NIL support, Happy Valley United and State Media are committed to doing their part.
The first $50,000 raised through Retain The Roar will be matched thanks to a contribution from former Penn State football player and current Nashville real estate developer Brad Bars, who committed financially to ensure the Nittany Lions win the spring transfer portal window. Bars was a standout on the Penn State football team from 2011-14 and now owns Creative Investments, where he employs Penn State lettermen Garrett Sickels, Mike Hull, Mike Farrell, Nick Tarburton and Jordan Dudas.
“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.”
State Media, led by Penn State lettermen Adam Breneman and Christian Hackenberg, exemplified the Retain The Roar mantra in their commitment to Happy Valley through a period filled with sanctions and continue to do so in the NIL space.
“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.”
Giving
- $10,000 – Heisman
- $5,000 – All-American
- $1,000 – All-Conference
- $500 – Team Captain
- $250 – Starter
- $100 – Letterwinner
- CUSTOM AMOUNT
Levels:
Retain The Roar supporters at each level are eligible for giveaways:
- Two (2) tickets to the Happy Valley United “We are at The Shore” Event
- Two (2) pre-game field passes to an agreed-upon 2024 Home Football Game
- Four (4) tickets and a parking pass to an agreed-upon 2024 Home Football Game
- Four (4) guests to the 2025 Pro Day
- Every $1,000+ contribution will receive a customized thank-you video from a Penn State letterman
“Happy Valley United wants playoff and championship football to become a fixture at Penn State yet again,” said Jen Ferrang, General Manager for Development and Corporate Partnerships. “Retain The Roar provides an easy way for fans to support their team in the current landscape of college sports. With Nittany Nation’s support of NIL, Penn State Football will be unrivaled this season and beyond.”
About Happy Valley United
Happy Valley United (HVU) is the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective supporting all 31 teams and 800-plus student-athletes at Penn State. Supporters, fans, and alumni who commit their support to HVU are pledging to maximize opportunities for student-athletes to build their brands and engage with the community. There are various ways to get involved, including corporate partnerships, memberships, and charitable contributions. HVU is powered by parent company Blueprint Sports. For more information about NIL partnerships with Penn State student-athletes, visit https://happyvalleyunited.com/ and follow @happyvalleyutd on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About The College Sports Co. & State Media:
The College Sports Co. (formerly known as Mercury) was founded by Porter Grieve and Adam Breneman to bring athlete-driven media to the forefront of collegiate sports. With partnerships and content networks at some of the largest schools in the country like Penn State and Oklahoma, College Sports Co. is focused on bringing fans closer to the athletes and schools they love in the constantly evolving landscape of college sports. “State Media,” College Sports Co’s Penn State brand, brings former and current athletes together to create the most engaging Penn State sports content on the internet.
