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Bendheim Gift
Helps Wharton
MBAs Pursue
Public Service
Careers
When Thomas L.
Bendheim, WG'90,
and his father, John M.
Bendheim, W'40, first
talked about making a gift
to their alma mater, they
knew that they wanted to
help others to give back
to society in the ways that
they have been able to do
throughout their careers.
"We know that many
Wharton students are interested
in public service
careers, but that their
educational debt burden
may inhibit them from
pursuing these jobs," says
Thomas Bendheim.
Established through a
$2.5 million grant from
the Leon Lowenstein
Foundation, the John M.
Bendheim Loan Forgiveness
Fund for Public Service will
help cover the debt obligations
for MBA graduates
who pursue public service
or not-for-profit work.
The younger Bendheim
says that the gift will help
people such as his wife,
Kathryn Bendheim,
WG'90, who, because of
the significant loan burden
she had taken on to come to
Wharton, could not afford
to take a job in the not-for-profit field right after she
graduated. The Bendheim
Loan Forgiveness Fund will
grant up to $50,000 of debt
forgiveness to students who
demonstrate their commitment
to the public and/or
not-for-profit sectors upon
graduation. Each award
recipient is then charged to
become a mentor and resource
for current Wharton
MBA students who are interested
in similar careers.
"This gives us a powerful
message to take to
those who are interested
in this kind of work," says
Thomas Caleel, Director
of Admissions and
Financial Aid in Wharton's
MBA program. "And it's a
powerful tool for recruiting
these people."
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