Katz Pledges $25 Million to Temple
Lewis Katz has made a $25 million pledge to Temple University, the largest gift from an individual in the history of the university. Katz has been a member of Temple’s Board of Trustees for fifteen years, and he also serves on the board of the Temple Health System and Fox Chase Cancer Center. Katz made no specification about how the money is to be used by the school.
The donation was announced during a gala dinner in Katz’s honor organized by the Fox School of Business. Katz was being awarded the 2013 Musser Award for Excellence in Leadership in recognition of his success as an entrepreneur. The President of Temple, Neil D. Theobald, observed: “The evening was intended to honor Lewis for his exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial success. Not surprisingly, he reflected that honor back on Temple with this historic gift.”
Katz holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Temple and a law degree from Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School. Katz joined a group of local investors to purchase Philadelphia Media Network in 2012, a company that owns Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Philadelphia Daily News. He is currently a joint managing partner of the Philadelphia Media Network. Katz is also the director of the Katz Foundation, an organization he founded to provide support for medical, educational, and charitable causes.
Katz believes that his experience at Temple University changed his life and set him up for success. He intends to return the gift to Temple with his $25 million pledge.
