Temple University today announced a $1 million gift from philanthropist Brook J. Lenfest, longtime Temple supporter and President and CEO of NetCarrier. 

The gift—pledged through the Brook J. Lenfest Foundation—will establish the Student Success Scholarship Fund to support students in good academic standing who face financial barriers while completing their degrees.  

Lenfest’s $1 million pledge, to be received over four years at $250,000 annually, will be matched by Temple through the president’s discretionary fund. The first recipients will be awarded in the upcoming academic year.  

“We are incredibly grateful for Brook Lenfest’s generosity,” said Temple President John Fry. “When we welcome students to Temple, our goal is for them to be successful. We are pleased to match this significant gift and see its investment grow to provide long-term financial stability and support students on their Temple journey.”  

Brook Lenfest has long championed student success at Temple.  

“While education has the potential to be the great equalizer, access to education is not equal,” said Lenfest. “In my own small way, I've tried to level the playing field in my hometown to provide more opportunities to students who face financial need. Temple’s quality and affordability of education was where I wanted to focus—and with Temple’s match—we have a deeper opportunity to invest in student success.”  

From 2007 to 2018, Lenfest awarded $1.7 million in scholarships to 32 students from Mastery Charter Schools and Philadelphia Futures for incoming Temple first-year students. The award continued for up to five years as long as the scholars met university requirements.   

In 2018, he pledged $4 million to create the Brook J. Lenfest Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports six students annually for up to five years. Temple provides additional funds each year to supplement the scholarship award and provides dedicated academic advising. To date, 42 students have benefited, maintaining an average GPA of 3.2 and an 83% retention rate. 

Rising senior Deandre Dixon, an industrial and systems engineering major who attended Mastery Charter Gratz Prep Middle School, is one of the first recipients of Lenfest’s latest gift. 

“I am very thankful to receive this scholarship,” said Dixon. “My mom has always provided for me, and coming from a single-parent household, this support has lessened the burden of paying for my education and put me on a path toward a better future.” 

“Mr. Lenfest truly has a generous heart, and I hope to follow in his footsteps one day and give back to my community in the same way,” he added. 

Underscoring a commitment to retention 

Jose Aviles, Temple’s vice president for enrollment and student success, emphasized the latest gift’s impact on student retention. According to a national survey, nearly 60% of college students have considered dropping out of school due to financial stress.  

“Too often, we hear stories of students struggling to finish their degrees because of financial hardship,” said Aviles. “The new fund, together with Temple’s match, will help us further reduce the financial barriers students face every day. Retention is essential for both student outcomes and the university, and this gift will make a real difference for qualified students.”  

The gift comes as Temple expands its investment in student success through innovative programs that keep students on track to graduate. Recent initiatives include:  

• Retention Grant Pilot: Provided funding to cover unpaid balances while connecting students with financial counseling. 
• Direct-TU One Stop Center: Centralized support to help students navigate financial, academic and social barriers.  
• EAB Navigate360: A data-informed platform to track student progress and provide timely support.  

In addition, Temple’s new financial aid program, Temple Promise, closes the tuition gap for Philadelphia County residents whose families earn $65,000 or less in adjusted gross income. As a last-dollar grant, it covers all remaining in-state Pennsylvania tuition and eligible university fees after other aid is applied.  

In March, Temple was chosen as Pennsylvania’s representative in the University Innovation Alliance, a consortium of leading public research universities working to improve student success and broaden access to higher education.  

Finally, in May, Temple earned the highest Carnegie Classification in the Opportunity College category for its commitment to students' success, making it one of just 21 institutions nationwide to receive top ratings for both research and student success. 

An inspired legacy of commitment  

Lenfest credits his parents for inspiring his philanthropic vision.  

“My father was very philanthropic,” said Lenfest. “I learned through my father’s interest in education.”   

Lenfest reflects on his own academic journey as inspiration to bolster student outcomes. 

“I didn’t really apply myself as a student,” he said. “It wasn’t until later that I realized how much a college degree matters. I admire the grit and determination so many students show—the exact opposite of how I was then. They’re working harder than I did, often with fewer resources and tougher circumstances. Their determination to succeed, even when the odds are stacked against them, is incredibly motivating.”  

Beyond philanthropy, Lenfest is active in community organizations. In 2000, he founded the Brook J. Lenfest Foundation, focused on programs in the Greater Delaware Valley. In 2001, the foundation helped fund Mastery Charter High School, which focuses on providing a supportive learning environment designed to prepare students for post-secondary success. 

Lenfest enjoys staying connected to students he has supported, often sharing his cell phone number.  

“Whenever I can, I try to help students find jobs or internships or just serve as a connection,” he said. “I don’t have children myself, so seeing young people achieve their goals-who wouldn’t enjoy that?”  

For Lenfest, the new partnership with Temple is about more than helping students finish their degrees.  

“We don’t want to see students leave because of finances,” said Lenfest. “Education gives students choices and increases their earning potential. To me, success is happiness. I hope students find careers that bring them joy and provide the financial stability to support themselves. I often tell students, ‘Find something you love doing, because it will have a huge impact on your happiness in life.’”