The largest gift ever made to the University for undergraduate student financial aid was donated recently by Jay H. Baker (W’56), the president of Kohl’s Corporation, the Wisconsin-based specialty department store chain, and his wife, Patty.

Three million dollars of the $11 million gift, announced Oct. 7 by President Judith Rodin, will endow the Baker Leadership Scholars Program, providing financial support to undergraduates throughout the University.

The rest of the Baker gift will support the construction of an undergraduate center, the Jay H. Baker Forum, to be located within Jon M. Huntsman Hall, now under construction. The two-story Forum will be the first and only Wharton facility large enough to accommodate an entire undergraduate class indoors.

The Bakers’ generosity prompted Alvina Hsu (W’02) to comment that “it’s really great that they’re not discriminating to Wharton students but helping students interested in all areas of study.” A total of 12 Baker Leadership Scholarships will be awarded on a need basis each year, beginning with the Class of 2004.