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Dedicated for Leaders and Best
Dedicated for Leaders and Best
Weill Hall, September 19, 2024, by Avery Yeung.
by Avery Yeung
Walking into the Joan and Sanford Weill Hall at the University of Michigan’s central campus, you’re surrounded by luxury. Vast floor-to-ceiling windows let the sunlight in, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere. Redwood walls surround cozy couches illuminated by two oversized ornate chandeliers, giving students a homey spot to relax or study. This beautiful building is named after American banker and philathropist Sanford Weill and his wife Joan, who have left an indelible mark on the field of education across the United States ("Sandy Weill").
Weill Hall was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (“Joan and Sanford Weill Hall”). The space blends modern and classic design elements, making it a beautiful building both inside and outside (“Weill Hall”). As you climb to the upper floors along the medieval-designed stairs, the first thing you might notice is the inviting carpeted floors and the grandeur of the decorations with oversized windows along the stairwell hall, which allow you to have a grandstand view outside.
The building is home to the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, where the Weill's contributions fund a deanship, fund six graduate students through scholarship donations, and the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Youth Empowerment Fund ("$5M gift"). The couple "enjoyed a long friendship with President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford" ("$5M gift").
Sanford Weill, "son of Jewish immigrants from Poland," grew up in Brooklyn, went to Cornell University, and spent many years working in stock brokerages and the securities industry ("Sandy Weill"). He began his career at Bear Stearns before co-founding several firms and eventually leading American Express (Dolan). His most notable achievement was orchestrating the $76 billion merger between Travelers Group and Citicorp in 1998, which created Citigroup. Weill served as Citigroup's CEO until 2003 and as chairman until 2006 (Dolan).
Inside of Weill Hall, September 19, 2024, by Avery Yeung.
Joan and Sanford Weill at Carnegie Hall in New York City, by Steve J. Sherman. Photo courtesy CarnegieHall.org.
Known for their significant contributions to various educational institutions, the names of Joan and Sanford Weill grace the hallways of many esteemed institutions in the country. Many educational centers and buildings are named after one of both of them, in addition to here at UM, including Sanford's alma mater Cornell University and Paul Smith’s College, where Joan has served on their board ("Sandy Weill"). "Over the past five decades, the Weills and the Weill Family Foundation have given more than $1 billion to educational, medical, cultural, and arts institutions" ("$5M gift"). Because of their generosity, the couple has been a recipient of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Award (2009) and the Kennedy Center Award for the Human Spirit (2017) ("$5M gift").
The couple’s determination to improve public education goes beyond their success in business, and their influence has gone beyond their financial contribution. Apropos, as their surname Weill, of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origins, translates to “will” or “desire” and carries a strong sense of self-determination and motivation (“Surname Weill").
Joan and Sanford Weill Hall is a reflection of the Weill family’s determination to make a lasting impact through their philanthropic efforts by supporting the growth of students and scholars dedicated to training leaders for the world.
Works Cited
"$5M gift from Joan and Sanford Weill and Weill Family Foundation supports graduate student fellowships." Ford School, University of Michigan, 14 Dec. 2021fordschool.umich.edu/news/2021/5m-gift-joan-and-sanford-weill-and-weill-family-foundation-supports-graduate-student. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
Dolan, Kerry A. “How A Former Citigroup Chairman’s $185 Million Gift For Neuroscience Has Already Led To Promising Research.” Forbes, forbes.com. forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2021/11/06/how-a-former-citigroup-chairmans-185-million-gift-for-neuroscience-has-already-led-to-promising-research/ Accessed 26 Sep. 2024.
“Joan and Sanford Weill Hall.” Ford School, University of Michigan, fordschool.umich.edu/facilities. Accessed 26 Sep. 2024.
"Joan and Sanford. I Weill to Become Carnegie Hall's First $100 Million Lifetime Donors." Carnegie Hall. carnegiehall.org, carnegiehall.org/About/Press/Press-Releases/2019/10/15/Sanford-Joan-Weill-100-Million-Gift-10-15-2019 Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
"Sandy Weill." Reference for Business. referenceforbusiness.com/biography/S-Z/Weill-Sandy-1933.html Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
“Sanford I. Weill.” Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanford_I._Weill. Accessed 26 Sep 2024.
Sherman, Steve. Photo of Joan and Sanford Weill at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Carnegie Hall. carnegiehall.org, carnegiehall.org/About/Press/Press-Releases/2019/10/15/Sanford-Joan-Weill-100-Million-Gift-10-15-2019 Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
“Surname Weill - Meaning and Origin.” iGENEA. igenea.com. igenea.com/en/surnames/w/weill# Accessed 26 Sep 2024.
“Weill Hall.” Michigan Creative, Office of the Vice President for Communications, University of Michigan.
tour.umich.edu/text-based/locations/weill-hall/ Accessed 26 Sep 2024.
Yeung, Avery. Exterior photo of Weill Hall. 18 Sep. 2024. Author’s personal collection.
Yeung, Avery. Interior photo of Weill Hall. 18 Sep. 2024. Author’s personal collection.
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