A $10.9 million gift to Temple University from the estate of a graduate of the institution has particular resonance on the Philadelphia campus. The money will be targeted at students with physical disabilities at a university known for its strong track record in providing disability services.
The late donor, a 1953 graduate, was a disabled student at a time when such services were not the norm on college campuses, but she thrived academically and built a successful career after graduating—outcomes her family members say she credited to her time at Temple. Now, 70 years later, the new funds will be used to assist current students who can incur higher college-related expenses related to their disability for such things as assistive technology, or note-takers or interpreters, or for housing that can accommodate large medical equipment, among other things.
