$10.9 million innovative gift from Jeanne Zweig’s estate, Fox ’53establishes a fund to help students with disabilities receive an education and a degree. The fund will permanently generate approximately $450,000 each year to benefit Jeanne Zweig Scholarship recipients.
A donation from the Zweig Foundation is one of the greatest gifts given to universities for helping students with disabilities. Details regarding the gift and subsequent scholarships were finalized late last year, and Temple expects to begin awarding scholarships to eligible students this fall.
“On behalf of the Temple community, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the House of Jeanne Zweig and her extended family for this generous gift. We have a special focus on helping Temple students with disabilities, and we are honored to further advance that mission through the Jeanne Zweig Foundation.”
Temple has a long history of leadership in supporting students of all backgrounds and abilities. Since 1981, Temple has been recognized annually by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation for exemplary service to students with disabilities. In 1985, the university established the Adaptive Recreation and Sports Program. It was the only program of its kind at the time and offered students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in recreational activities.
Today, the Office of Disability Resources (DRS) offers a variety of scholarships, helps students with housing, academic facilities, and organizes SHOUT peer support groups. The office also works closely with the Career Center to provide career development and employment opportunities for students and alumni.
DRS Director Carrie Snyder said: “Here at Temple, our commitment to accessibility is strong and, thanks to Jeanne-Her Zweig Foundation, we will continue to expand the services and opportunities available to students with disabilities.”
Born with cerebral palsy, Zweig enrolled at Temple in the 1950s, majoring in accounting. She graduated cum laude from Fox Business School in 1953 and earned her MBA at Fox the following year. After graduating from Temple University, Zweig worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC before successfully starting her own accounting firm, Zweig Her Lamic and Associates.
“Jeanie kept booking. Nothing stopped her,” said Karen Leschner, Zweig’s niece and director of the Jeanne Zweig Charitable Foundation. Leshner said Zweig’s operations serve clients around the world, including those in Australia that his Zweig visits from time to time.
Throughout his life, Zweig gave back to Temple, funding DRS and funding the construction of wheelchair ramps for the Temple Performing Arts Center.
Jeanne Zweig graduated cum laude from the Fox School of Business. (Photo credit: The Templar, Philadelphia, PA.: Temple University, 1935, p. 118.)
The Jeanne Zweig Endowment Fund provides scholarships and helps pay for accommodation students may need to pursue Temple education, including assistive technology. The scholarship also provides additional funding for Temple students to receive support services such as career planning and coaching. JEVS Human Services (JEVS) is a local organization with a mission to improve employability, independence and quality of life for individuals and their families. their community.
“JEVS is thrilled to be a resource for Temple University’s Jeanne Zweig Scholarship recipients,” said Heather Keafer, senior vice president of communications and external relations at JEVS. “A big part of our mission is to serve individuals with disabilities. From assistive technology to career assistance to independent living support, JEVS has many opportunities to serve individuals with disabilities. We are excited about this partnership with Temple and the opportunity to support the Jeanne Zweig Scholars.”
Students can determine eligibility for scholarships and scholarships awarded by DRS by registering with DRS on their website. In addition to registering on the MyDRS portal, students can visit her DRS website to learn more about the services, scholarships, and volunteer opportunities DRS offers.
