PHILADELPHIA -- The Penn World Scholars program at the University of Pennsylvania has received a $1 million gift from Sir Evelyn and Lynn Forester de Rothschild to support a Penn World Scholar from a British Commonwealth country.

“This gift ensures that Penn continues to make a difference, by offering the very best education to all students with the potential to change the world,” Penn President Amy Gutmann said.  “I am so grateful to Sir Evelyn and Lady de Rothschild for their visionary philanthropy.”  

The first Rothschild World Scholar will be awarded with the Class of 2014.

The Penn World Scholars Program, launched in 2008, provides financial assistance to outstanding scholars whose demonstrated leadership and future career plans indicate that a Penn education will enable them to have a significant impact on their home countries.  

Not only do the students receive the most generous scholarships, but they become part of a global leadership program that provides opportunities to meet with University leaders, prominent international alumni and visitors to Penn.  They also gain practical global leadership experience through international internships.

There are currently 19 Penn World Scholars on campus, from the classes of 2011, 2012 and 2013.  Hailing from India to Australia, from Latvia to Turkey, from Egypt to Vietnam, they are a remarkable group committed to improving the lot of their countrymen and women back home.

These students are already having an impact on campus through their involvement in such activities as Engineers Without Borders, the Kelly Writers House, Wharton Ambassadors and the Muslim Students Association.

Wishing to thank Penn for the wonderful educational experience had by her children, Benjamin Stein and Jake Stein, Lynn Forester de Rothschild chose to support a cause already dear to her and her husband.  They are committed to helping deserving undergraduates receive the education they need and deserve, and they recently created the Manmohan Singh Undergraduate Scholarship Fund at Cambridge University in honor of India’s Prime Minister.

“We believe in the power of education to transform the lives of individuals and society, and we believe in the power of Penn to effect that kind of transformation,” she said.  “We look forward to watching our Rothschild World Scholars take their places at Penn and in the world.”

Lynn Forester de Rothschild is a former corporate lawyer and telecommunications entrepreneur.  Sir Evelyn retired as chairman of N. M. Rothschild.  Now he is chair and she CEO of E.L. Rothschild, a holding company for their global investments, with a focus on India.