Q&A: Denise Foderaro, SAMP'78

Co-Chair, Campaign Major Gift Committee

Born and raised in South Philly, Denise used to simply cross the Schuylkill to get to Penn. Now she has to cross the country, but her ties to the University – as an alumna, a Penn parent, and a Major Gift Committee co-chair – are stronger than ever. She was kind enough to share a little about these connections, as well as her thoughts on Making History.

What made you choose Penn?
Penn offered me the chance to combine my love of medicine, psychology, and the arts as an occupational therapy major [in the School of Allied Medical Professions]. Everything most useful and most ornamental, as Franklin said!

What did you love most about being a Penn student?
I grew up in the sheltered, homogenous Italian community of South Philadelphia, and at Penn, the world was certainly my oyster. Not only could I be a science nerd (and be accepted!), but I could also take wonderfully rich, eye-opening courses in sociology, anthropology, and women’s studies, as well as opera, religious studies, and yes, even belly dancing. I was looking for it all, and Penn did not disappoint.

More than three decades later your daughter chose Penn. Why did Penn appeal to her?
Freedom of choice! The flexible and exciting academics really appealed to Cristina (C’11), as did the chance to create her own academic program. As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

How has being a Penn parent changed your relationship with the University?
Hearing about my daughter’s experiences—the stretching, the balancing, the discovery—has only deepened my relationship to Penn and makes me want to do whatever I can to help Penn make history.

What excites you most about President Gutmann’s vision for Penn?
The idea of making history. Remember, I grew up in Philadelphia, ate sandwiches in Betsy Ross’s front yard, even touched the Liberty Bell as a child. That’s the feeling I get with this campaign. It gives me an up-close and personal chance to make and feel history.

Does that excite you as an alum, a parent, a Philly native, or all of the above?
It excites me on all fronts! But I have to say that, as a Philly native, the University’s expansion eastward, and the idea of a beautiful new gateway to campus, is especially exciting.

You and your husband have made a major commitment to the Singh Center for Nanotechnology. How did you decide to support this?
Quite honestly, my husband [Frank Quattrone, W’77] and I wanted to support several Penn programs, so choosing to support just one was a tough decision. But we felt that with the state of nanotechnology being where it is, our donation might best help to “make history” there.

What do you want Penn alumni to understand about the campaign?
Just as Penn focuses on lifelong learning, we as alumni must focus on lifelong giving, generously giving of our time, our funds, our talent, and our passion. We are Penn—bright, strong in will, energetic, committed, and proud—and everything we do helps realize the campaign challenge ahead of us.

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