PHILADELPHIA -- A weeklong "Celebration of Giving," March 14-18, will surround the March 17 dedication and renaming of Spruce College House as Riepe College House in honor of Trustees Chairman James Riepe and his wife Gail, a member of the Board of Overseers for Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine.  The celebration recognizes the Riepes' $10 million pledge to support the College House Renovation Project and honors their longstanding dedication to strengthening student life at Penn.  

"We have been eagerly awaiting this day because it gives us a chance to honor a magnificent couple who have given so much to Penn.  Two generations of the Riepe family have called the Quad home for part of their academic life at Penn," said Penn President Amy Gutmann, "and now, with their generous support, many more generations of students can experience the unique residential programs Riepe College House offers.  I can think of no greater testimony to the lasting impact Penn can have on its students than the Riepes' choice to contribute to Penn in this way," she said.

The Riepes' gift supports the recent renovations of the House, which is home to 462 students.  House amenities include two libraries, a computer lab, two music practice rooms, a fitness center and two seminar rooms.   The House is known for its faculty-led dinner discussion series and provides computing and academic skills workshops.  

Highlighting the week of special events will be the March 17 Dedication Party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. under a tent in the Lower Quad, with Gutmann presiding.  Student members of the planning committee will present the Riepes with gifts of appreciation.  All Riepe College House residents attending will receive a commemorative souvenir and each of the first 25 to arrive will receive an additional surprise.

The festivities begin March 14 and will feature a different activity each evening:

• Monday:  House Movie Night.  At 8 p.m. the film "Finding Forrester" will be shown, and pizza and soft drinks will be served in Ashhurst Lounge.
• Tuesday:  Riepe College House Bowling Night, 6 p.m. at Strikes Bowling Alley, Locust Street, between 40th and 41st streets.
• Wednesday:  House Dean's Dinner for 20.  Twenty residents of the House have been invited by the house dean to join Michael Tierney, Graduate School of Education; David Brownlee, former director of College Houses and Academic Services; and Linda Kronfeld, executive director of principal gifts, for dinner and conversation on ow Does Penn Get Its Money?(Reporters interested in covering this informative session should call House Dean Marilynne Diggs-Thompson at 215-898-2855 or 215-471-6556 for the time and directions to her apartment.)
• Thursday:  Dedication Party as detailed above.
• Friday:  The Riepe House Awards will be presented for contributions of books to the Wilson Elementary School library at a dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. at the apartment of Faculty fellows Karen Detlefsen and K.C. Tan.  Wilson School administrators have been invited to join members of the House Mentors Program who have spearheaded the book drive.

Jim Riepe earned degrees in 1965 and 1967 from Penn's Wharton School, and Gail Petty Riepe is a 1968 graduate of the College for Women.  He is vice chairman of T. Rowe Price Group Inc.  The Riepes live in Baltimore.