In “The Legends of the Nittany Valley,” folklorist Henry W. Shoemaker tells the story of the American Indian King Wi-Daagh, a chief of the Susquehannock American Indians, who cast a spell on Nittany Valley so that those who visited would be captivated by the spirit of the place. Whether Wi-Daagh's enchantment is ever empirically proven, the Nittany Valley’s magnetic effects have proven themselves to be a very real cultural force for countless Penn Staters, townspeople, and visitors. And like many, the Shakely family shares an affection for Penn State and the Nittany Valley that spans generations. Tracing its American roots to 18th-century pioneers who settled in Pennsylvania's Sugar Creek Valley, the Shakely family has since dispersed across the Commonwealth and the country over more than eight generations. The Tom and MaryKate Shakely Family Conservation fund exists to honor their ancestors, to perpetuate knowledge of indigenous Pennsylvania peoples, to foster encounters with timeless places and passion for the natural and human ecology necessary for their thriving, and to strengthen public life.