Front Page Flashback
December 2007:
$10 Million Gift for Fox Leadership Program
Alumni Robert A. Fox, C’52, and Penny Grossman Fox, ED’53, made a gift of $10 million to endow and expand the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program in the SAS. The Robert A. Fox Leadership Program (“Fox”) is dedicated to enriching the Penn undergraduate experience in ways that equip and empower students and recent alumni for present and future leadership roles. This donation brought the Foxes’ total support of the program to $23 million.
No Loan Financial Aid Initiative
President Amy Gutmann announced that Penn had expanded the financial aid program to eliminate loans for financially eligible undergraduate students regardless of family income. This initiative made it possible for students from a broad range of economic backgrounds to graduate debt-free.
First Place Ranking for Safety
Penn earned the first-place ranking for safety by Security Magazine in the education (university) category for the first time. It has earned the same ranking in every subsequent year through 2017.
December 1997:
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
Penn announced the creation of the Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center. The Abramson family made this possible with a $100 million gift, the largest single contribution to that date for cancer research to an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center. The goal of the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute (AFCRI) is to transform scientific breakthroughs into innovative cancer treatments, with a focus on four primary research areas: cellular transformation, tumorigenesis, translational research and cancer prevention.
December 1987:
True Grit
One of Penn’s longest-standing staff members, Delma Young, who was a Penn employee for 67 years, announced her retirement. Ms. Young joined Penn in 1920 as a secretary for the department of pathology, a position she held through nine chairmen of the department. She transitioned to part-time status in 1968, at which time her portrait was hung on the second floor of the John Morgan Building.
December 1977:
The Campus Campaign
The Campus Campaign, headed by Dr. Charles Price, reached $4.3 million thanks to a $1 million pledge from the radiology department to fund a professorship in honor of Dr. Eugene Pendergrass.
December 1967:
Dietrich Graduate Library Center
Dedication ceremonies were held for the $5 million Dietrich Graduate Library Center. Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shafer was the dedication speaker.
December 1957:
First Library Unit
Construction began on the first unit of the library-classroom building, making use of a $4 million allocation from the Commonwealth for redevelopment.
This was Penn’s first addition to the Main Library and the building boasted space for a million books.
This 1957 photo shows students at work in the Wood History of Education Seminar on the second floor of the Dietrich Graduate Library Center.