Wharton Receives $10 Million for Study of Alternative Investments

Philanthropy News Digest
February 25, 2019

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania has announced a $10 million gift from alumnus Josh Harris (’86) and his wife, Marjorie, to advance the study of alternative investments.

The gift will establish the Joshua J. Harris Alternative Investments Program, an innovative initiative that will build on existing curricular offerings to expand opportunities in the field for Wharton students and bring them together with alumni, academics, and industry experts.

A co-founder, senior managing director, and director of public equity firm Apollo Global Management, Harris serves on Wharton’s board of overseers. The couple’s previous support for the school includes gifts to create the Wharton Private Equity Professorship, currently held by finance professor Bilge Yilmaz, who will serve as faculty director of the Harris Program; the Harris Family Endowed Scholarship for undergraduate students from the D.C. area; the Joshua J. Harris Professorship; and the Joshua J. Harris Wrestling Assistant Coach Endowment. Harris also is a managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers, managing member of the New Jersey Devils, and a general partner of the Crystal Palace Football Club.

“Wharton students continue to express a strong interest in alternative investments, and the Harris Program will provide unprecedented resources to enrich their understanding of the industry,” said Harris. “I know firsthand that Wharton students are creative, entrepreneurial, and eager for new challenges — attributes that the great leaders of the industry possess. I look forward to the Harris Program inspiring our students to pursue transformative opportunities and develop into future leaders of the industry.

Originally Published in Philanthropy News Digest.