Year in Review

Benjamin Franklin Society 70th Anniversary

A logo featuring the University of Pennsylvania shield and the words "Benjamin Franklin Society" on one line and "70 Years - Est. 1955" on another

YEAR IN REVIEW

Messages from Penn’s Leadership

A portrait of J. Larry Jameson, Interim President of the University of Pennsylvania. — J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD
President
University of Pennsylvania

Penn marked an exciting milestone this year: the 70th anniversary of the Benjamin Franklin Society. For seven decades, members like you have set the standard for leadership giving at Penn—ensuring that our University not only endures but thrives.

I have seen firsthand the extraordinary impact of your generosity. Whether gathered at Homecoming, in New York City, or connected by shared purpose across the globe, our community reflects the very best of Penn: a bold commitment to education, discovery, and service.

Your support of our annual giving programs strengthens the foundation on which our students learn, our faculty lead, and our mission advances. Backed by the strength of more than 7,000 members, your partnership provides us with the flexibility to meet today’s needs while staying agile in the face of tomorrow’s challenges. And it has never been more essential or appreciated.

Looking ahead, we do so with deep gratitude and great excitement for all that is to come. Thank you for being an essential part of Benjamin Franklin’s remarkable legacy. It remains a privilege to stand alongside you.

Sincerely,

J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD
President
University of Pennsylvania

A portrait of Kate Griffo, Vice President of Development & Alumni Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. — Kate Griffo
Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations
University of Pennsylvania

We have so much to celebrate as we wrap up the Benjamin Franklin Society’s 70th anniversary year! Your generosity and shared commitment to Penn’s future made this milestone especially memorable.

Last year, thousands of BFS members supported priorities across the University and came together in Red and Blue at events ranging from the always-popular BFS Homecoming Brunch to a New York City reception with President J. Larry Jameson.

Your leadership annual giving support also helped Penn hit a record-breaking total of $116.4 million in annual giving across the University.

Beyond the numbers, it is your collective impact that matters most. You have opened doors for students at every level, sparked innovation in classrooms and labs, and helped Penn adapt and thrive during a time of tremendous change in higher education.

Thank you for everything you do for Penn, this year and every year.

With gratitude,

Kate Griffo
Vice President, Development and Alumni Relations

BFS BY THE NUMBERS

Total BFS Members

Total BFS Members in Fiscal Year 2024–25

New BFS Members

New BFS Members in Fiscal Year 2024–25

20-Year Renewals

BFS Members who have renewed membership for 20+ years

Upgraded Giving Level

BFS Members who have upgraded their BFS Level by increasing their support

Event Attendees

BFS Members who attended an event in our 70th Commemorative year

TOKENS OF TRADITION

BFS 70th Anniversary
Commemorative Pin Collection

To celebrate 70 years of the Benjamin Franklin Society (BFS), members had the opportunity to collect a series of seven (7) commemorative pins. Inspired by Benjamin Franklin and Penn, this special anniversary collection honored our members’ engagement throughout the year.

Here is a look at how our members engaged with us in Fiscal Year 2025:

An illustration of a red and blue BFS medallion, featuring the words 'Benjamin Franklin Society - 70 Years' around the border and 'Est. 1955' in the inner portion.

BFS Members who gave in FY24 and FY25 were eligible to receive the BFS Medallion pin.

9,087

Pins Earned

An illustration of Franklin Field, stylized in red and blue, with the word 'PENN' in large letters on the field.

Members who attended the BFS Homecoming Brunch on November 16, 2024 were eligible to receive the Franklin Field pin.

202

Pins Earned

An illustration of a pair of circular glasses, reminiscent of those worn by Benjamin Franklin, with blue lenses and red frames.

Members who attended a school or center event for BFS Members were eligible to receive the Bifocal Eyeglasses pin.

319

Pins Earned

A scroll bearing the year '1776' beside a quill in an inkwell.

Members who participated in a BFS Member Spotlight on the @PennBFS Instagram were eligible to receive the Declaration & Quill pin.

Pins Earned

An illustration of a red and blue kite tied of a large brass key.

Members who attended the BFS New York Reception on March 3, 2025 were eligible to receive the Kite and Key pin.

274

Pins Earned

An illustration of a blue and red pennant adorned with the word 'PENN'.

BFS Members who upgraded their gift from FY24 by any amount were eligible to receive the Pennant pin.

1,513

Pins Earned

An illustration of three books with red and blue jackets.

New BFS Members in Fiscal Year 2025 or BFS Members who upgraded their BFS Level from FY24 were eligible to receive the Lending Library Books pin.

1,637

Pins Earned

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

From the BFS Homecoming Brunch to school and center BFS celebrations, relive the moments that brought our community together throughout the 70th Anniversary fiscal year.

Two people dressed in casual fall outfits and Ivy League hats smiling for a photo at a busy outdoor stadium during a homecoming celebration.

Donors who contribute $5,000 or more per year to Penn Athletics annual funds join the R. Tait McKenzie Society and are invited to meet with other members at the RTM hospitality area at Penn Football games in Franklin Field.

University of Pennsylvania cheerleaders perform indoors alongside the pep band, with students and alumni gathered for a spirited homecoming event.

All BFS members were invited to an exclusive brunch on Penn’s campus in November 2024 prior to the Homecoming Football Game against Harvard. Attendees of the brunch were treated to a performance by Penn Band and Penn Cheer, and received complimentary tickets to the game.

A family poses together at a University of Pennsylvania homecoming event indoors, with red and blue balloons and guests mingling in the background.

Two women smile for a photo at a University of Pennsylvania event, wearing name tags and standing in a warmly lit room decorated with balloons.

Four guests pose together at a University of Pennsylvania evening event, smiling and holding drinks in a warmly lit reception with red and blue lighting.

BFS members were invited to an exclusive reception at The New York Historical in March 2025, where they heard remarks from President J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD and had the opportunity to explore The New York Historical’s exhibitions.

Penn President J. Larry Jameson speaks at a podium during a Benjamin Franklin Society event, with University of Pennsylvania branding in the background.

Three Penn alumni smile together at an evening celebration, dressed in formal-casual attire and wearing name tags in a venue lit with blue and red lights.

Six people pose together at a University of Pennsylvania alumni event, dressed in semi-formal attire and holding drinks in a warmly lit wood-paneled room.

Penn Dental BFS members met with other Dental alumni for the Greater New York Alumni Reception at the Penn Club in New York in December 2024. BFS gifts to Penn Dental Medicine provide crucial resources to help educate the next generation of Proud Penn Dentists.

Three smiling guests at a University of Pennsylvania alumni event pose in front of stained glass windows and chandeliers in a warmly lit historic venue.

Four guests stand together at an outdoor Penn alumni event near a pool, smiling and wearing name tags with greenery and hills in the background.

Penn Engineering BFS members and other Engineering alumni met in San Diego in April 2025 for a Garden Party hosted by Faisel H. Khan, C’98, ENG’98, and Muniba S. Khan, and featuring remarks by Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean and Professor.

Three smiling guests pose outdoors at a University of Pennsylvania alumni event, with a pool, trees, and seated attendees in the background.

Four attendees enjoy lively conversation around a cocktail table at a University of Pennsylvania event, smiling and holding drinks in a warmly lit venue.

Penn Carey Law BFS members met in February 2025 for the Luminaries Reception at the Cicala restaurant in Philadelphia, where they heard remarks from Dean Sophia Lee and enjoyed a performance by the Law School’s Light Opera Company. BFS gifts to the Law School support increased access through scholarships, curricular innovation, and enhanced programming.

Three guests engage in friendly conversation at a University of Pennsylvania evening reception, standing near a bar in a warmly lit venue with chandeliers.

A speaker at the podium addresses the audience at the Penn Carey Law Luminaries Reception, with a large event screen and red drapery in the background.

A group of four guests poses for a photo at a University of Pennsylvania event held in a bright, sunlit space filled with attendees in business attire.

The Barnwell Society recognizes donors who make gifts of $2,500 or more to the Penn Libraries Fund each year. Barnwell Society members and other leadership donors to the Penn Libraries met in April 2025 for a Leadership Celebration honoring Arnold and Deanne Kaplan.

Three guests stand around a table with a flower arrangement, engaged in conversation during a Penn reception in a sunlit venue.

Guests enjoy conversation around a small round table with a green tablecloth and floral centerpiece during a Penn alumni reception in a modern indoor space.

A group of five guests at a Penn alumni event pose together, holding plates and drinks, wearing name badges and lanyards in a warmly lit reception space.

In May 2025, Benjamin Franklin Society donors to the Perelman School of Medicine enjoyed an exclusive VIP pre-reception event before the Alumni Weekend Awards Celebration at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.

A man in a suit and a woman in a black dress pose together, smiling at a Penn event held in an elegant venue with soft lighting and patterned glass doors.

Six guests stand together and smile for a photo at a Penn event, dressed in business and cocktail attire, with rows of gold chairs and purple lighting behind them.

A crowd attends a University of Pennsylvania reception in the Penn Museum, seated and standing around cocktail tables with a central sphinx statue in view.

In April 2025, Penn Museum Visionaries, who make Annual Fund contributions of $2,500 or more were invited to the Annual Leadership Dinner featuring remarks by Christopher Woods, PhD, Williams Director at the Penn Museum, Peter G. Gould, PhD, LPS’10, Chair of the Board of Advisors at the Penn Museum, and Beth Winkelstein, Deputy Provost at University of Pennsylvania.

Smiling attendees hold hands while walking past the main elevator at the Penn Museum during a University of Pennsylvania reception.

A speaker gestures from a podium during a formal dinner at the Penn Museum, surrounded by guests seated at round tables with flowers and table settings.

Six guests pose together at a Penn Museum dinner event, standing in a row and smiling in front of seated attendees and arched architectural details.

Five people stand together on a sunny waterfront promenade with the New York City skyline in the background and the Statue of Liberty visible in the distance.

Penn Nursing BFS members and other leadership donors met in April 2025 for an exclusive reception in New York. BFS gifts to Penn Nursing make an incredible impact in developing students into experts and leaders who will shape health and wellness around the world.

A man in a pink polo shirt speaks to a group of people seated at a restaurant table, with food and drinks on display in a warmly lit, colorful interior.

BFS members of the Class of 2025 were invited to an exclusive reception in April 2025. As leadership members of Seniors for the Penn Fund, these students set a powerful example of philanthropy and boost the Class of 2025’s impact on the future undergraduate experience at Penn.

A woman in a white dress smiles while standing in front of a group of applauding attendees during a University of Pennsylvania indoor event.

As part of Reunion Weekend 2025, Wharton celebrated its BFS members with an exclusive reception featuring remarks by Chief Advancement Officer Bill Bole and Erika H. James, Dean of the Wharton School. With their generous unrestricted support of The Wharton Fund, BFS donors have an outsized impact on The Wharton School.

Five smiling attendees pose together at a University of Pennsylvania alumni event, wearing name badges and lanyards in a brightly lit indoor space.

Three Wharton alumni smile together at a University of Pennsylvania event, wearing name tags and alumni badges in a modern indoor venue.

A large group of Wharton alumni poses together indoors during a University of Pennsylvania event, smiling and wearing badges in front of a glass wall.

BFS MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

Get to know some of the remarkable individuals who make up the Benjamin Franklin Society. First shared on our @PennBFS Instagram, these member spotlights reflect the heart of our community.

Member Spotlight: Margaux Dacremont Kobouloff

See more Member Spotlights

Connect With Us

Follow @PennBFS on Instagram to connect with the BFS and larger Penn community! It’s a great way to stay up to date with what’s happening with BFS in its 71st year!

Follow @PennBFS

Calling all BFS Members!

We’d love to tell your story and spotlight you on our @PennBFS Instagram.

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