Max Kalin came to America in the late 1800's as a penniless teenager who spoke no English. As a consignee of his uncle, who owned a dry goods wholesale business in Lock Haven, he pedaled dry good wares on foot around Centre and Clinton Counties. He and his wife Miriam settled in Bellefonte in 1914 and moved to State College in 1928. They, their five children, and twelve grandchildren were part of a small early Jewish population of Centre County. Their grandson, Richard Kalin, a State College attorney and former Chair of the Board at Centre Foundation, created this fund for the benefit of Congregation B'rit Shalom so that Jewish life in Centre County will continue to flourish.