Walter and Leonore Annenberg's latest gift will help two areas that are desperately in need. Trustees Walter and Leonore Annenberg, whose name already graces numerous campus buildings and programs, are giving another $10 million to Penn. And this time, their generosity is benefiting two initiatives that are greatly in need of help: undergraduate financial aid and the Political Science Department. Five million dollars of the donation is a challenge grant that, when matched, will fund the Annenberg Scholars Program. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the financial aid packages of students who qualify for assistance. With many of Penn's competitor schools in the news lately for making major improvements to their financial aid systems, and with Penn at a disadvantage because of its relatively low per capita endowment, this is the perfect time for a new initiative. In addition, the Annenbergs deserve congratulations for making such a substantial donation to an area that does not carry with it a great deal of name recognition. The other half of the gift should help the beleaguered Political Science Department attract faculty and conduct research. The Annenbergs' endowed chair will also be tied to the Annenberg School for Communication and the Annenberg Public Policy Center. This donation should be attractive bait in drawing talented, well-known professors to join Political Science because of the higher salary and research packages it will bring. Donors like the Annenbergs are key to Penn's success. They should be saluted for picking out two programs that truly need help -- and not just finding a building to name.
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