Barry, W’70, P’09 and Marie, P’09 Lipman

“Giving back is personal for us. Getting involved with Penn’s scholarship program just made sense…it met a vital Campaign goal and just felt good. Each year when we meet our scholarship recipient, we get to see the difference we make first hand. We also know that these students will go on to be the leaders of tomorrow, creating a Lipman Family legacy that will last long after we are gone. Personally making a difference in students’ lives, and for the future of society, that is what it’s really all about.”

Penn couldn’t ask for better spokespersons than Barry and Marie Lipman. In 2003, they created the Barry R. and Marie Lipman Family Endowed Scholarship, to provide financial support to undergraduates who have previously worked or volunteered in the nonprofit sector and who plan to pursue a career in a nonprofit field. In a moving tribute, students who are children of police, fire, rescue workers, and emergency medical technicians who died as a result of the 9/11/01 disaster at the World Trade Centers are also eligible for the scholarship. Harrison Society members since 2002, Mr. Lipman was recently selected to join the Major Gifts Committee of Making History: The Campaign for Penn, to share the important messages of giving back and creating legacies for the future of Penn.

Would you like to create a lasting legacy and Make History like the Lipmans? If so, contact the Office of Gift Planning at 800.223.8236 for more information.

Joseph and Margaret Santoli

When Joseph and Margaret Santoli sent their son Chris to Penn, they knew that he would get a top flight education. However, they were also pleased to become welcome additions to the Penn family themselves. After Chris’ first year, they elected to include a bequest to the University at the recommendation of their estate attorney, because the gift could increase as the family’s relationship with Penn deepened.

When asked how Chris did in his first year, the Santoli’s told Greg Johnson in the Office of Gift Planning,

“Chris had such a positive experience his first year at Penn that he has already declared a major, in Classical Studies. His professors and classes have confirmed and even exceeded his expectations for the university's legendary level of scholarship. He knows he made the right choice and feels Penn is the perfect school for the serious student. As parents we are convinced Penn was the right choice for Chris because of the high standards Penn maintains. It is important to maintain those standards by giving back to support a school that upholds them.”

Through their estate gift, the Santoli’s will help future generations of students benefit from the type of quality education provided to Chris. The University is grateful to the Santoli’s, and all of our legacy giving donors, who are truly making a difference with gifts to support the present and future of Penn.

Jim Higgins, C'76, GAR'78, W'87

“I feel very strongly about the importance of scholarships. As a scholarship recipient, I know the value first hand. Through supporting the scholarship program, I’m able to stay connected with Penn and I have the gratification of knowing that in some small way, I’m helping a student obtain a Penn education.”

In addition to his UFA support, Jim continues to advance the program by funding a fellowship to benefit a Design student. In working with the Office of Gift Planning he has designated funds to be added to an existing scholarship by naming Penn the beneficiary of his retirement plan. Recently, a gift through a bequest has enabled Jim to establish yet another scholarship. Jim noted that it’s just about finding the many ways to continue his support.

Sallie-Ruth MacCorkell, ED'46, GED'49

At the 35th Reunion of our class, I put a bequest in my will for Penn’s Library, because it meant so much to me as a student. Then last year, I set up a charitable gift annuity to help the two schools that have shaped my life: the University of Pennsylvania, and my other alma mater, the Philadelphia High School for Girls, where I taught for 28 years. I receive a lifetime of guaranteed income, some of it tax-free, and a useful income tax deduction, too. Upon my death, the gift annuity will endow a Penn scholarship for students from Girls’ High, women like Judith Rodin, my former student and fellow alumna. Who knows, maybe one of them will go on to lead Penn. Sometimes dreams just work out perfectly.

John C'65, WG'67 and Jacqueline Hover

When Jaqui and I traveled to Egypt with the University of Pennsylvania Museum, we learned the importance of creating a legacy. I care very much about the University and the Museum. That’s why we put together a charitable remainder trust. It’s good estate planning and a tax-efficient way to make a charitable gift. Stock I acquired long ago is converted into a new income stream today. When we are both gone, the trust will pass to the Museum. Past, present and future—it all comes together. This is our legacy for Penn.

Edith (“Peggy”) Griffiths Chisholm, CW'45, WG'46 & Frederick R. Griffiths, W'42

We attended Penn during the tough economic era of the Depression. Penn prepared both of us to take full advantage of the post-World War II economic boom. Influenced by years of writing and acting with Mask & Wig and Penn Players, Fred pursued a career in the new entertainment medium—Television. This became a lifetime career with a national group of radio and television stations. Penn prepared Peggy for her fifty-year business career, during which she successfully survived four business mergers. We endowed the Griffiths Family Scholarship Fund to assist young men and women in acquiring the same sort of skills and inspiration that our Penn educations gave to us. We both plan to add to our Scholarship Fund through our estates, with bequests in our Wills and by designating Penn as the beneficiary of an IRA. This is our way of lending a helping hand to Penn students, today and in the future, just as Penn helped us all those years ago.

George Shiau, ENG'94, W'94

As a high school student, I chose Penn for the uniqueness of its Management & Technology dual-degree program. There was no other program in the country which could compare with it and the opportunity and flexibility to pursue inter-disciplinary learning was phenomenal. When I was 29 years old, I prepared my first estate plan, because I did not want to be unprepared for the unexpected events in life. My lawyer asked a typical question, “Where do you want the money to go?” Upon reflection, I realized that if I were to die the next day, I would want Penn to be an important part of my legacy. Having named Penn as a beneficiary of my plans, this future gift will help the University to continue executing on its educational mission and enriching the lives of other students like me.

Robert G. Gallager, EE'53

“With a Penn charitable gift annuity, I was able to do something nice for the School and save money, too. I always felt that I got a wonderful undergraduate education in electrical engineering at Penn’s Moore School. It stood me in good stead for my later graduate work and faculty career at M.I.T. The gift annuity provided a way to pay something back to Penn and to help future students benefit like I did.

Robert L. Benz, M.D., C'74 & Marie Uberti-Benz, M.D., RES'82

We have had some success in life, through our medical careers and our own Internet business. One year was extraordinary, so we shared our prosperity with Penn by donating a house that we initially lived in then owned as a rental property. Now we are able to put our donation to work by supporting things that we believe are important at Penn: things that matter to us, our family and future Penn students and society. Our history and ties to Penn revolve around our two sons, schoolmates, Penn Wrestling and the Life Sciences. We are proud to support these programs with endowments to the wrestling program and the development of the new Life Sciences and Management Program to integrate the Life Sciences with other fields. This exciting new endeavor by Penn will yield important leaders of tomorrow who will advance the quality of life for humanity. We are happy to contribute to that future.

Sandy Simon, W'56

“At 50 years out, it’s a good time to reflect on what you have accomplished over the years. Penn played a significant part in those accomplishments, not only in the disciplines learned academically, but in its reputation and its acquaintances. Having a Penn education opened doors that otherwise would not have been opened. It was time to make a gift that was meaningful to what I’ve gotten in return.” By using securities to fund a charitable gift annuity, Sandy was able to make a more significant gift to support Penn and receive lifetime income, all while saving substantially on capital gains taxes.

Jim Heffernen, W'56

"As a young man I caddied at the Plymouth Country Club where Penn played its home matches. Bob Hays, longtime golf coach at Penn, suggested that I apply to Penn. Although the Admissions Office was hesitant about my application, Coach Hays encouraged them to let me prove that I was Penn material."

Jim was admitted to Wharton and excelled in the classroom. From there, he went on to a successful career as a tax attorney. For his 50th class reunion, Jim elected to make a gift to support Penn in honor of Coach Hays, who showed such faith in Jim as a young man. By funding a charitable remainder trust with real estate, Jim was able to provide income for himself and his wife Fay while ensuring a gift to Penn. When they made their trust, Jim and Fay simultaneously funded a last-to-die life insurance policy that would be held in trust to benefit their children. The charitable remainder trust in combination with the life insurance trust is a WIN-WIN-WIN scenario for Jim and Fay, their children, and for Penn!