Penn alum makes $42 million estate gift to support ‘civic-minded’ undergrads
William J. Levy, a graduate of both Wharton and the Penn Carey Law School, had a strong interest in the arts and targeted his gift toward students in the College of Arts and Sciences.
A $42 million estate gift from a University of Pennsylvania alumnus will fund financial aid for “civic-minded” students with a goal of contributing toward society, the school recently announced.
William J. Levy, a graduate of both the Wharton School and the Penn Carey Law School who died in 2023 in New York City at age 87, had a strong interest in the arts and targeted his gift toward students in the College of Arts and Sciences, the university said. Including his previous gifts, Levy has donated a total of $50 million to the school for scholarships.
“Generously establishing the William J. Levy Endowed Scholarship over two decades ago, he shared our belief that service-oriented leadership is crucial to making headway on the great challenges of our time,” Penn’s interim president, J. Larry Jameson, said in a statement.
The new estate funds will expand the scholarship program, with at least 40 students annually receiving support, the school said. The first awards will go to students this fall.
The university receives many estate gifts “but very few of this magnitude,” a Penn spokesperson said.
Levy, who grew up in Pittsburgh, where his family owned the Warren Grocery Co. chain, once worked for the Public Defender’s Office in Philadelphia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, Penn said.
He founded Warren-Potomac Inc., a private investment firm.
Levy was an avid art collector, especially fond of impressionist artists, “who never missed an opportunity to attend scholarship events and meet with students,” Penn said. “His philanthropy extended beyond Penn, including contributions to various organizations supporting the arts and championing equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.”