Richard, W'74, and Merry Feintuch, W'74

Richard (W'74) and Merry Feintuch (W'74) made their first gift to Penn -- a five dollar donation to The Penn Fund -- just four years after they both graduated from the Wharton School of Business. Since then, their involvement has increased both in scope and level, but they've not forgotten annual giving. In fact, they have continued to make gifts to The Penn Fund every year for the last 24 years.

They know that by supporting all aspects of undergraduate life at Penn, The Penn Fund touches much of what made Penn special for them. "Merry and I had our first date at a Glee Club show in the Annenberg Center," says Rick. "The campus is also the place we spent countless hours waiting in line for exceptional tickets to basketball games, and where we hung out with our friends in places like Superblock and Dietrich Hall."

"Penn has always had an important place in our memories," adds Rick. "It's where we grew up and became adults."  When their two sons, Jason (W'05)  and Jonathan (W'08), followed them to Wharton, it just reinforced the connection. Now, they read the Daily Pennsylvanian online to keep current on what students are doing. When they do return to the University, they find themselves in a place that is both familiar and also evolving into an ever more vibrant culture.  "The campus has expanded and improved immeasurably through the years, including more classroom spaces and research, and a greater array of restaurants and other commercial establishments," says Merry.

Both have become active participants in the shaping of the University. Rick currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Annenberg Center and both he and Merry have worked as gift chairs for the Class of 1974 and on the class Gift Committee. And, along with their consistent annual giving, they have also established the Feintuch Family Endowed Scholarship, and made other gifts to fund special projects for the Annenberg Center, as well as the 125th Celebration of Penn Women, athletics, and other key initiatives that directly benefit undergraduate students.

When asked why they feel that this sustained commitment to their alma mater is essential, neither hesitates. "With the cost of a higher education growing through the years, each member of the Penn alumni family who can afford to should support Penn's students," says Merry.

Rick agrees, highlighting the value of his family's own education at the University. "Besides the exceptionally thorough and broad business instruction our entire family received, we were each able to branch out into many other diverse areas of study as students, which set the foundation for our lifelong love of learning."

"We each have our own individual reasons for our love of the University, but no other institution has even come close to the direct impact Penn had on all of our lives," says Merry. "It may be decades since Rick and I first set foot on campus, but we feel as close to Penn now as we have ever felt in the past."

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