University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumnus Howard R. Levine, chairman and CEO of Family Dollar Stores Inc., has created an endowment to support undergraduate and graduate students in Jewish studies at his alma mater.
The Howard R. Levine Student Excellence Fund in Jewish Studies, created through a $500,000 pledge, will support academic studies and scholarly research. When fully funded, the endowment will provide the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences with a permanent source of funding to further the center’s teaching mission.
“Through this gift, I hope students will have a more enriching college experience and perhaps have the means to take advantage of learning opportunities that otherwise might not be within their financial reach,” said Levine, who graduated from UNC with a business degree in 1981.
The endowment will:
- support student research inside and outside the classroom, including student travel and study abroad;
- fund academic field trips to extend the classroom experience into the community;
- enable the center to bring in visitors to meet with students and deliver unique programs; and
- allow the center to expand its course offerings to meet rising student demand.
“We are so thankful to Howard and his family for this generous and inspiring gift to the center and to Carolina’s students,” said Jonathan Hess, center director and Moses M. and Hannah L. Malkin Term Professor of Jewish History and Culture. “The level of study and the quality of the research conducted by UNC students is truly impressive. Now, thanks to the Levine family, our students can participate in more projects and programs than ever before.”
Levine, a Charlotte native and resident, said he is delighted to give back to UNC’s students.
“I’ve been following the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies for a few years now, and I’ve heard nothing but positive things about the program and its growth,” Levine said. “Furthermore, I like that the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies attracts students with different backgrounds and a range of interests. As a Carolina alumnus with an interest in supporting Jewish organizations and causes, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to support my alma mater in a way that was personal to me.”
Established in 2003, the center unites the public, students and faculty from various academic disciplines who share a passion for a deeper understanding of Jewish history, culture and thought. The center offers undergraduate minors in Jewish studies and modern Hebrew. More than 1,000 students take Jewish studies courses each year, and the center also offers an outreach program and lecture series.
