Development Matters: Remembering Ray Perelman | Penn Medicine in Florida

Penn Medicine in Florida: It’s Always Sunny…

Alumni and friends in Florida were treated to an insider’s view of Penn Medicine and its Power of Penn Medicine campaign with a series of events in Naples and Palm Beach this winter.

Penn Medicine first visited Palm Beach 14 years ago, and its programming has been growing ever since. In addition to two exclusive salon dinners hosted by Dean Larry Jameson, Penn Medicine leadership and faculty could be seen in multiple private receptions, a local grand rounds, and even a Sunday polo match.

“Penn Medicine has been enjoying a growing presence in Naples over the past three years thanks to this wonderful community of friends,” Jameson observed. It was Donna and Rob Corrato who brought Penn Medicine to The Port Royal Club for a campaign dinner and panel discussion, and Jack Hoopes invited faculty to share the latest innovations with members of YPO. Jacqueline and Arturo Balandra and Robert Klausner made Penn Medicine faculty feel right at home with special luncheons.

Over on the other side of the state, Hilarie and Mitch Morgan and Gail and Jim Riepe graciously opened the doors of their lovely homes to Penn Medicine’s leadership, faculty, and friends. And guests at the Power of Penn Medicine salon dinner were treated by a surprise appearance by a special guest: alumnus and Nobel laureate Michael Brown, MD’66, who was proud to support his medical alma mater.

Celebrating the Memory of a Great Philadelphia and Penn Citizen

In January 2019, Penn Medicine—and the City of Philadelphia—lost one of its most significant and committed civic partners with the passing of Raymond G. Perelman, W'40, Hon'14. He was the patriarch of a true “Penn family”: Ray was a Wharton School alumnus and his children and grandchildren, including son and Penn trustee Ronald O. Perelman, are Penn graduates. In his later years, Ray could be seen on campus or at medical school events like graduation and the celebration of the Perelman School of Medicine’s 250th year. He particularly enjoyed meeting Penn’s incoming medical students.

One of Philadelphia's native sons, Ray felt strongly about giving back to the community that had given him so much. He was the son of a Lithuanian immigrant who passed on to his son the vision and tenacity that would become Ray’s hallmark, expanding his father’s business and growing it into an enormously successful concern with manufacturing, mining, and financial interests. Always aware of his responsibility to society, he was active with a large number of organizations, including the Allied Jewish Appeal, the United Way, the American Technion Society, Temple University Hospital, the National Museum of American Jewish History, the Albert Einstein Health Center, and the Beth Sholom Congregation.

With his beloved wife, the late Ruth Caplan Perelman, Ray made a historic $225 million gift creating a permanent endowment for the School of Medicine, which was renamed the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The state-of-the-art Ruth and Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, created thanks to the couple’s $25 million gift, opened in 2008.

Beyond Penn’s campus, Ray's legendary generosity has greatly impacted Philadelphia's educational and cultural landscape. His support was key for the landmark Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and its intimate Perelman Theater to the magnificent Perelman Building at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and both Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Drexel University celebrate Ray on their campuses. Jewish causes were also close to Ray’s heart. He named the Raymond and Ruth Perelman Jewish Day School in Wynnewood, the Raymond G. Perelman Center for Jewish Life at Drexel University, and supported many other Jewish cultural and welfare organizations.