UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Before he passed away on Dec. 23, 2024, Charles H. “Skip” Smith, the Penn State alumnus and philanthropist who launched the construction of The Arboretum at Penn State with a landmark gift in 2007, made another gift to build upon his family’s legacy at the University: a new $1 million commitment to create the Charles H. "Skip" Smith Soaring Waters Fountain Garden. The reimagined garden will be a welcoming landmark for visitors to the University Park campus, and it will reinvigorate the Margery Enes Smith Soaring Waters feature, which Smith previously named in memory of his late wife.
“Skip Smith’s extraordinary generosity through the years has transformed The Arboretum at Penn State into one of the University’s most beloved spaces,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “This new gift of the Charles H. ‘Skip’ Smith Soaring Waters Fountain Garden will captivate visitors, celebrate our connection to Pennsylvania’s natural heritage and inspire future generations. Skip’s vision and commitment have made the Arboretum a cornerstone of our campus for reflection and a true gift to our community. We offer our condolences and our gratitude to the Smith family.”
The Charles H. "Skip" Smith Soaring Waters Fountain Garden will enhance the Margery Enes Smith Soaring Waters with sustainable technologies and features as well as recreate the area between it and the Marsh Meadow Boardwalk — a signature gateway to the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens. Combining the scenic naturalistic beauty of native grasses, perennials, and other plants, the Fountain Garden will wrap around the Margery Enes Smith Soaring Waters with a series of terraced flower beds and trees that draw upon botanical diversity and the Arboretum’s strengths in sustainable landscape design. Seat walls from local stone will create a strong foundational structure to the highly textural plantings in the surrounding fields, and the garden will provide spaces for socializing and photography with stunning backdrops from views of the surrounding areas.
“I am deeply grateful to Mr. Skip Smith and his family for this transformative gift,” said Casey Sclar, the H.O. Smith Endowed Director of the Arboretum. “The Charles H. ‘Skip’ Smith Soaring Waters Fountain Garden will follow core design principles that have guided us throughout the Arboretum’s growth, with an eye toward the intersection of art, science, nature and technology that is public horticulture as we know it today. The first glimpse of this garden from East Park Avenue will communicate to students, community members and others that the Arboretum is welcoming and inviting to all who visit.”
That invitation is central to the mission of the Arboretum and the University as a whole, according to Larry D. Terry II, vice president for Penn State Outreach.
“The Arboretum was created to connect the campus and the community, and it is among the most unifying symbols of outreach to the people of Pennsylvania,” Terry said. “We are excited to see the vision for the Fountain Garden take shape and to celebrate again the Smith family’s positive impact on the Arboretum, which is a true example of how generous philanthropy can improve the life of our community and open the doors to research and teaching that can change society for the better.”
A resident of State College, Skip Smith was the son of Harry O. “H.O.” Smith, who graduated from Penn State in 1918 with a degree in architectural engineering. In 1951, H.O. Smith incorporated his construction, real estate development and rental company into H.O. Smith & Sons Inc. After Skip Smith graduated from Penn State in 1948 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, he worked at his father’s company along with his brothers and fellow Penn State graduates James B. Smith (class of 1950) and Thomas L. Smith (class of 1954). In 1950, Skip Smith founded State College Television Co., which became State College Audio-Visual Supply.
While discussion of an arboretum on the University Park campus dates back to the early 20th century, the planning began in earnest in 1999, when the Board of Trustees approved an initial plan. It was not until 2007, however, when Smith stepped forward with an initial $10 million gift to establish the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens that construction of the facility could begin. That gift has been leveraged to encourage almost ten times more philanthropy to transform the Arboretum’s gardens and operations.
Over the years, Smith has continued to be the leading donor to the effort. With his sons David, Jeffry and John, he helped to create the Pollinator and Bird Garden, an international-award-winning garden designed to attract and sustain native bird and insect species vital to the central Pennsylvania ecosystem. The family has supported enhancements to the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens, and Smith endowed the directorship of the Arboretum in 2021. In addition to his foundational and sustained support for the Arboretum, Smith has given $5 million to support brain repair research in the Eberly College of Science. He stands among the most generous donors in Penn State’s history.
“Like the plants and pollinators that have found a home there, The Arboretum at Penn State is a living thing, and I am glad that my support has helped it to grow and develop,” said Smith before his passing. “I want the Charles H. ‘Skip’ Smith Soaring Waters Fountain Garden to draw attention to all the wonderful work that happens at the Arboretum, and I hope that other donors will continue to join me in making the Arboretum a destination for future generations of Pennsylvanians to enjoy.”
Skip Smith’s support for The Arboretum at Penn State advances the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.