When Anthony J. Drexel founded our University in 1891, he could not have foreseen the extraordinary ripple effects of his philanthropic act. In the century since, our University has evolved and expanded beyond what he envisioned because of individuals who share his passion. Today, we recognize those individuals with the Anthony J. Drexel Society, a vibrant community of annual supporters who continue to change the world one gift at a time.
Drexel’s philanthropic basis has flourished from one 19th century banking entrepreneur to thousands of donors from all walks of life. Anthony J. Drexel Society members represent a wide range of Drexel Dragons. They are engineers, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, doctors and businesspeople. They are Drexel graduates, faculty, staff and parents. They are alumni of five decades and alumni of five years.
They are individuals like Erin Deck, BSBA ’09. As a student, Erin earned multiple scholarships supported by donors at the Anthony J. Drexel Society level. Now, she is a successful chief administrative officer who can pay it forward. She shares, “After building success in my career, I reflected on what helped get me there. Being able to give back, I worked with Drexel to establish a scholarship for recipients who are passionate, driven, involved contributors with leadership potential.”
Through her giving, Erin stands alongside our founder and her former scholarship supporters. Each has performed a powerful act of kindness, making significant charitable contributions to better our University and those we serve.
The Anthony J. Drexel Society recognizes households that contribute $2,500 or more — and recent undergraduate alumni who contribute $500 or more — in a single fiscal year. Whether supporting young scholars, an area of the University, or our partners at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, their contributions help students and faculty drive breakthroughs in science and technology, push the boundaries of performing and visual arts, provide equitable health care across our community, take part in educational co-op experiences, expand their perspectives by traveling abroad, and so much more.
In other words, they help students and faculty change the world. Take Kara Spiller, for example. As a student, Kara Spiller, BS/MS ’07, PhD ’10, benefitted from the generosity of donors.
“Financial aid during my time as a student completely changed my life,” Spiller shares. “I was accepted into the first class of STAR scholars in 2003. I had never done research before; in fact, I had never met a researcher or scientist before. But it turned out that research became my greatest passion and my greatest skill. As a graduate student, I initiated a research collaboration with a lab in Shanghai, China, which was funded by several scholarships. My time in Shanghai was totally life altering. Now a major part of my mission is to increase international research opportunities for students.”
Today, Spiller is doing just that. A Drexel professor since 2012, she was recently named the URBN Endowed Professor of Biomedical Innovation in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. She is passionate about creating the same opportunities she had by supporting student research in a dozen different countries.
Under Spiller, Drexel’s Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory has produced 15 patents, 75 publications and more than 100 research awards. Her lab has pioneered immune engineering for tissue healing, research that could significantly improve the lives of those suffering from diseases like cancer and diabetes all around the world.
Spiller’s story embodies the ripple effect of the Anthony J. Drexel Society — each contribution made to the University can transform not only one life today but also thousands and even millions in the future.
We invite you to join this group of change-makers today. To recognize our supporters’ far-reaching impact, we offer private events, educational workshops and exclusive communications.
To learn more about becoming part of the Anthony J. Drexel Society, please visit giving.drexel.edu/AJDS or contact Catherine Hutchinson at [email protected].