Lenadelphia
Philadelphia is on the rise. It’s been on the receiving end of a lot of national attention lately: Forbes’ annual 30 Under 30 recently named the city its permanent home, the Pope plans a visit later this year, and the Democratic National Party chose Philly to host its 2016 convention. Even better, new buildings and revitalization projects are taking shape all over town.
There are a lot of things at work behind the city’s rising status as the place to be. But if you were to compile a list of the individuals who have had the greatest impact on the city of Philadelphia during the last two decades, H. F. “Gerry” Lenfest ’13 HD, would certainly be near, if not at, the top.
“Gerry Lenfest’s philanthropy in Philadelphia has not only been extremely generous, it has been literally transformative.”
“When you write the history of Philadelphia, since the turn of the 21st century, Gerry Lenfest has been the singular most important person in the city,” says Lenfest’s friend and fellow philanthropist Mark Solomon, a retired financial professional who now devotes his time to furthering education at schools such as ARISE Academy Charter School and GESU School. “There isn’t anything he hasn’t impacted one way or another. Arts, schools … he’s everywhere. There’s no one like him.”
Born in Jacksonville, Fla., Lenfest graduated from Washington and Lee University and Columbia Law School, and served his country as a captain in the United States Navy. In 1965, he moved to Philadelphia to join Walter Annenberg’s Triangle Publications, Inc., as associate counsel. A few years later the company put him in charge of its Communications Division, including its cable TV interests.
When Triangle decided to sell its cable business in 1974, Mr. Lenfest seized the opportunity to become an entrepreneur. He borrowed $2.3 million, purchased the cable system in Lebanon, Pa., which had 7,600 subscribers, and launched Lenfest Communications.
At the time, Lenfest and his wife, Marguerite, were in their 40s with three young children. In a 1999 interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Marguerite spoke about their decision. “We had confidence in ourselves. He was a lawyer and could always go back to that. I was a schoolteacher and could go back to that… I don’t think we analyzed things the way they do today.”
Their risk paid off as the enterprise grew and grew. Lenfest Communications became one of the 12-largest cable companies in the nation, with cable television systems in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, as well as interests in Europe. After 25 years in business, Lenfest sold the company for $2.2 billion in 1999.
The Lenfests quickly got to work planning the smartest ways to donate to good causes. They set up the Lenfest Foundation in 2000, which supports education in the Philadelphia area and beyond, including charter schools and Teach for America. It boasts a scholarship program called Lenfest Scholars, which awards 24 graduating high school seniors from rural areas up to $12,000 per year toward college tuition. The foundation also established the Lenfest Ocean Program, which funds scientific research on policy-relevant topics concerning the world’s oceans.
Lenfest Plaza at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is one of Phildelphia's newest open-air gathering spaces.
The couple has also contributed hundreds of millions of dollars and many, many hours of their personal time to cultural institutions in the city. A few among them: the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Curtis Institute of Music and the Barnes Foundation.
Derek Gillman, a Drexel University distinguished visiting professor of visual studies and former executive director and president of the Barnes Foundation, says “Commitment to the arts — sure, purposeful and clear-eyed — characterizes Lenfest charity.”
Gillman praises Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest’s decision to become “early and game-changing supporters” of the Barnes Foundation’s plan to create a new campus on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. “The outcome is greatly increased access to one of the finest art collections in the world.”
He adds that their broader commitment to the cultural life of the city and its environs has been unwavering for more than 20 years. “How many potential arts-goers have been converted into actual participants through the Lenfest Arts Campaign?” Gillman asks rhetorically. “Thousands, I would think. There is no question that Gerry Lenfest has changed the profile of Philadelphia through his philanthropic mission.”
One of Mr. Lenfest’s favorite current projects is the Museum of the American Revolution, which will become the only institution in the country dedicated to telling the story of America’s bid for independence. The museum is under construction, with a slated opening in the spring of 2017.
“Philadelphia is America’s heritage city,” Lenfest says. “This is the place where the United States was founded. The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution all originated here.” History is at the top of his list of reasons why he loves Philadelphia.
In 2012, Lenfest issued a $40 million challenge grant to encourage others to donate and help fund the construction of this new museum.
Architectural rendering of the Museum of the American Revolution expected to rise in old city by 2017.
“[Gerry] has not just been a ‘check writer,’ he has personally engaged with many of his chosen charities, providing them with his business acumen and judgment in addition to his financial support,” Cohen says. “The combined impact has been extraordinary. Gerry Lenfest’s philanthropy in Philadelphia has not only been extremely generous, it has been literally transformative.”
“How many potential arts-goers have been converted into actual participants through the Lenfest Arts Campaign? Thousands, I would think. There is no question that Gerry Lenfest has changed the profile of Philadelphia through his philanthropic mission.”
Last year, Lenfest ventured back into the communications business world. He partnered with his friend, Lewis Katz, to purchase the parent company of the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com. Just days after winning the bid, Katz was killed in a plane crash. Lenfest bought out Katz’ stake, becoming the sole owner. He also serves as publisher of all three outlets.
Lenfest is really enjoying the challenge of serving in the publisher role and has no aspiration to retire. “I have more fun doing something and having some responsibility than nothing. I would go to seed very quickly if I didn’t have something to keep me occupied,” he says.
Lenfest has won numerous awards for his service and philanthropy in the past, including the Governor of Pennsylvania’s “Patron of the Year” Award, and an honorary doctorate from Drexel University in 2013.
Drexel President John A. Fry says Lenfest’s entrepreneurial achievements would be more than enough to make him a role model for LeBow students, considering that he helped transform the nascent cable industry into the core of modern communications. “But then he and Marguerite turned to their real work, returning the rewards of their success to society through philanthropy that spans opportunity, education, the environment, arts and culture, and wherever else they see a need in our communities.”
Fry adds, “It’s a privilege to know Gerry, and to honor him as Business Leader of the Year.”
David Cohen says there are several key lessons that can be taken away from the Lenfests’ approach to philanthropy:
Follow your passion. Support what makes a difference to you personally.
Focus your philanthropy. No one can be supportive of everything, but through focus you can maximize impact.
Philanthropy can serve a leadership role. Leverage your philanthropy by leading others.
Pair your own personal time commitment and strengths with your philanthropy.* This also leverages your financial support.
Gerry Lenfest portrait by Shea Roggio Photography
