PHILADELPHIA, October 26, 2020 – The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is delighted to announce a new $5 million dollar gift from Jacqueline Reses, W’92 and her husband Matthew Apfel, L’90. This significant commitment will support the completion of Wharton’s new academic building currently under construction. The gift will also create the Reses Apfel Men and Women of Pennsylvania Challenge Fund and supports undergraduate scholarships.
“One of the great fortunes of the Penn community is to have alumni donors like Jackie and Matt. Jackie went from her education at Wharton on to great success in her professional life. By choosing to give back with this gift to the School, she sets a tremendous example for women in philanthropy,” said Dean Erika James. “Jackie and Matt have remained dedicated and connected to Penn and with these extraordinary gifts to Wharton, they help to advance future generations of business leaders and provide inspiration for other alumnae to join in supporting the School at meaningful levels.”
Jackie Reses and Matt Apfel’s $5 million gift will benefit three separate Wharton causes. A portion of the donation will go toward the completion of one of the newest capital projects taking shape on Penn’s campus. As a new gateway to the campus, the building will serve as a fully equipped modern hub for faculty and student research and will house research programs, including those dedicated to data and analytics. The gift will help create an inviting, pivotal gathering space for students and welcoming lounge area for social events and lectures.
The gift will also support undergraduate financial aid in two separate ways. The Reses Apfel Men and Women of Pennsylvania Challenge Fund will provide matching funds for subsequent scholarship donors multiplying the impact of their philanthropy. A new scholarship will supply financial aid for undergraduates at Wharton as part of the Undergraduate Named Scholarship Program. This expands upon the couple’s devotion to educational access through their Reses Apfel Family Endowed Scholarship, which has benefitted female Wharton students since 2008. Reses’ commitment to undergraduates is an extension of her service to the School, where she is a member of Wharton’s Undergraduate Executive Board.
“Wharton had a transformational role in my life,” said Reses. “I want to support the School in its mission to make it possible for every student who earns a place at Wharton to be able to attend and thrive.”
Jackie and Matt both continue to dedicate time to Penn and Wharton. Jackie frequently guest lectures in classes at Wharton sharing her expertise on a diverse range of topics from finance to technology, and she is passionate about imparting her experience to students more directly as a mentor. She was also instrumental in the work to help revamp the undergraduate curriculum, and in 2016, delivered the graduation keynote address to the Wharton MBA Program for Executives at Wharton San Francisco. Matt works with the Law School as a guest speaker on law and technology matters.
About the Wharton School
Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 99,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.
About the University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1740, is an Ivy League institution with a distinctive past. Its 12 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools are located in Philadelphia on an attractive urban campus that serves a diverse community of more than 20,000 students from throughout the nation and around the world. Ranked consistently among the top universities in the nation, Penn has a longstanding reputation for excellence in graduate and professional education.
