Harris Wofford, former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania and co-chair of America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth, will speak as part of the Penn State Forum series at noon today, at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

The subject of Wofford's presentation will be "Fulfilling Penn State's Promise."

Alan Rubin, a member of America's Promise advisory council, said Wofford would speak about Penn State's involvement in the organization.

"Penn State is very involved in America's Promise. The speech will cover Penn State's accomplishments, as well as the organization's actions in general," Rubin said. "I believe he will be suggesting even more ideas to help Penn State to get involved."

Penn State was named the recipient of the inaugural George H. W. Bush Promise of America Award for Schools, Colleges and Universities on Oct. 15, in recognition for its efforts in helping young people throughout the campus communities.

"It is exciting to have Harris Wofford speaking since Penn State's Promise organization is very active. It is a nice reward," Carol German, Penn State's Promise community liaison, said.

Wofford joined the America's Promise Board in March 2001 and was named chairman in January 2002. As a senator, serving from 1991 to 1994, and chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, from 1995 to 2001, he has been a major force in the shaping of the American Community and is known as a leader in community service.

He has devoted much of his life to making citizen service a common expectation and experience for all Americans.

Wofford has been part of the nation's service movement since helping to launch the Peace Corps in 1961. He played a key role in creating and working to pass legislation that created AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The Penn State Forum is a lunchtime speaker series presented by the Faculty Staff Club and is sponsored in part by the Penn State Bookstore. It is open to the public. Tickets include lunch and are $10 for members of the Faculty Staff Club and $12 for non-members. Reservations can be made at the Faculty Staff Club office, 103 HUB-Robeson Center.

Tickets will be on sale at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by the speech and a question-and-answer session at noon.