Wharton School Announces $1 Million Gift from Alumnus John Patience for Fellowship Support

Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 8, 2007 – The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania announced a $1 million gift from alumnus, John Patience, to establish the John Patience Endowed Fellowship Fund. Patience is co-founder and general partner at Crabtree Partners LLC located in Lake Forest, Ill.

"We are delighted to have John's name on this Wharton fellowship,” stated Wharton School Dean Patrick T. Harker. “His generosity in supporting deserving MBA students will inspire others to follow his example, and students who receive the fellowship in years to come will know that a Wharton alumnus of great character and achievement provided for their educations."

The John Patience Endowed Fellowship Fund is awarded each academic year, providing financial aid to an MBA student at the Wharton School. As an endowed fund, it will exist in perpetuity.

“My Wharton education changed my life,” said Patience. “It provided me with the skills I needed for a successful career in consulting and then private equity. I am delighted to be able to provide a similar opportunity to future MBA students.”

Patience is a 1973 graduate of the Wharton School, where he received his MBA in finance. He currently serves as general partner at Crabtree Partners LLC, a private investment partnership that he co-founded in 1995. Patience is married with four children, and his son, John, received his MBA from Wharton in the spring of 2006.

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania — founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school — is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community. The school has more than 4,600 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 8,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and an alumni network of more than 81,000 graduates.

Wharton at 125