Title
Also naming Civic Center Boulevard to Raymond G. Perelman Way.
Body
WHEREAS, Raymond G. Perelman was born in Philadelphia, raised in the Feltonville and Olney sections of the City and attended the University of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, After proudly serving his country in World War II, he began his 70 year, and still counting, career in a broad range of highly successful business ventures; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his successful business career, Raymond established a tradition of gracious philanthropy and giving back to the Philadelphia community; and
WHEREAS, With his late wife, Ruth, he made numerous transformational gifts that have created positive change for the cultural, educational and healthcare systems in Philadelphia, including the following:
§ Donating $15 million to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to name the landmark Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building;
§ Donating $25 million to the University of Pennsylvania to build and name the Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, located on the street to be named in his honor;
§ Donating $11 million to Drexel University for the Raymond G. Perelman Plaza and the Raymond G. Perelman Center for Jewish Life;
§ Donating $1.3 million to the National Museum of American Jewish History;
§ Donating $6 million to the Kimmel Center for the Arts;
§ Donating a historic $225 million to the University of Pennsylvania, which named its medical school as the Perelman School of Medicine; and
WHEREAS, Raymond G. Perelman has now made another life-changing gift to the children of Philadelphia and the world by donating $50 million to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which in appreciation is naming its 8-acre campus on the south side of Civic Center Boulevard as the Raymond G. Perelman Campus; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the profound impact his charitable contributions have made on the lives of countless families, Raymond G. Perelman's generosity has helped spark significant long-term economic benefits to the City of Philadelphia in the form of creating jobs, driving cultural tourism, and developing research innovations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Civic Center Boulevard is also named Raymond G. Perelman Way to recognize a remarkable life of munificence and achievement.
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