Wharton club given $25,000

The Wharton Entertainment Finance Society recently received a $25,000 donation which will ensure the new group's future and, members said, snag them a program of their own on University Television. Associate Director of the Wharton Undergraduate Division Elizabeth Bennett, the group's advisor, said the Wharton alumnus who made the donation requested to remain anonymous. "It was someone who knew of their progress as a club and was supportive of their goals," Bennett said yesterday. "We're hoping that this endowment will support the club and its activities for years to come." "This person is a regular donor to the Wharton School and he will be articulating his desires for the [direction of] the money," she added. The group, which was founded last October, is an organization whose main function is "to secure and provide funding for student entertainment projects," according to co-founder Ian Inaba. "Basically, the overall function [of the group] is to incorporate education regarding the entertainment industry and careers in the entertainment industry to the University," said Inaba, a Wharton and Engineering senior. Group member and Wharton junior Mark Frederick said the group allows its 30 members to find out more about the financial side of the entertainment industry. "The entertainment field is a huge field, and there are no courses offered about it," Frederick said. Frederick said the group intends to broadcast a show on UTV to provide students with a hands-on experience in the field of TV production. The show, which will air in the near future, will have a "weekend wrap-up" format, he added. "There'll be coverage of private parties, and things like basketball games and performing arts groups," Frederick said. Frederick said his vision of the program is one of a University-wide bonding experience. "It'll be the kind of thing that everybody gathers around and watches," he said. Inaba said the group also aims to get information for its members on grant procurements, and works towards private solicitation of donations and institutional backing for budding artists and their endeavors. The group has also created an alumni advisory board with University alumni who are heads in the entertainment industry. Inaba said the group has a mentoring program with Southern California Wharton alumni. While the group's base is in Wharton, Inaba said that the group is currently waiting to be considered for Student Activities Council funding and may open itself up to University students from other schools.