Edwin R. Crawford Trust recognized for decades of contributions

Penn State McKeesport recognized the Edwin R. Crawford Trust at the spring Blue and White Scholarship Reception for the trust's philanthropic support of the campus over a 35-year period.

Trustees George F. Young Jr., Bernadine H. Kovacs and William H. Johnson represented the trust, which was established by the estate of Edwin R. Crawford a banker and manufacturer from Duquesne. At his death in 1936, his will created a charitable trust fund of $1.5 million.

Since 1971, the trust has contributed $456,614 to the campus, primarily for scholarships. The Edwin R Crawford Trust is the single largest organizational donor to Penn State McKeesport. In 1988 in recognition of the foundation's outstanding support, the campus named the building that houses the computer center and technology labs in honor of Edwin R. Crawford.

"The trust's gifts to the campus are inspirational," said Pat Quinn Winter, director of development. "In addition to establishing the E. R. Crawford Trust Fund Scholarship in 1984, the foundation also set up a matching fund from 1986-1990 whereby the trust agreed to match up to one-half of the amount needed to establish a scholarship endowment. As a result of their matching program, the campus added nine additional scholarship endowments during the University's first capital campaign."

The trust also supported the McKeesport Heritage Center, which got its start at the campus, and a student emergency loan fund at a local bank.