Penn officials are about to announce the largest fundraising campaign in the history of the university. And they’re inviting the entire Penn community to kick of the campaign in style.

“The Time is Now, The Place is Penn,” the event celebrating the campaign’s launch, will take place this Saturday on College Green. Faculty, staff and students are all invited. The celebration will begin at 6 p.m. and run until about 9:30.

“The Time is Now, The Place is Penn,” will feature remarks from Jim Riepe, chairman of the Board of Trustees, University trustee and donor George Weiss, and Penn President Amy Gutmann. The Penn Band will perform, as will University dance groups including African Rhythms and Strictly Funk. Food and drink will be served.

The event will culminate with a video presentation detailing the upcoming campaign, followed by a huge sound and light show just after 9 p.m.
The schedule is as follows:

6 p.m.: Event begins, guests welcome on College Green
6:30: Remarks from Gutmann, Riepe and Weiss
6:45: Campaign video (shown on screen in front of Van Pelt-Dietrich Library)
6:50-9 p.m.: Performances by the Penn Band, Counterparts, African Rhythms, Dhamaka, Pan Asian Student Group, Dance Off the Beat and Strictly Funk
9:15: Sound and light show

For more information about the event, call Alumni Relations at 215-898-7811.

Originally published Oct. 18, 2007.