Eugene Lang
Encyclopedia
Eugene M. "Gene" Lang (b. 1919, New York City) is an American
philanthropist
who founded REFAC Technology Development Corporation in 1951. He created the I Have A Dream Foundation in 1981, and Project Pericles
in 2001. He has also made large donations to Swarthmore College
, The New School
's undergraduate liberal arts college - Eugene Lang College - and the Eugene M. Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia Business School
, which is part of Columbia University.
In 1996 President Bill Clinton
awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
. His philanthropies, focused primarily on education, altogether exceed $150,000,000. Due to his philanthropy in education, he now holds 29 honorary degrees.
. He attended public schools and studied at Townsend Harris High School
. At the age of 15 he was admitted as a scholarship student to Swarthmore College
, and received a B.A. in economics in 1938. He then received an M.S. from Columbia Business School
in 1940. He was married to Theresa (Volmar) Lang from 1946 until her death in 2008; they had three children, Jane Lang
, David Lang and actor Stephen Lang
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who founded REFAC Technology Development Corporation in 1951. He created the I Have A Dream Foundation in 1981, and Project Pericles
Project Pericles
Project Pericles Inc. is a non-profit organization composed of liberal arts colleges and universities geared towards the ideas that social responsibility and participatory citizenship are essential parts of an undergraduate curriculum, in the classroom, on campus, and in the community.- Background...
in 2001. He has also made large donations to Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
, The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
's undergraduate liberal arts college - Eugene Lang College - and the Eugene M. Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School is the business school of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1916 to provide business training and professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate Columbia University students...
, which is part of Columbia University.
In 1996 President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
. His philanthropies, focused primarily on education, altogether exceed $150,000,000. Due to his philanthropy in education, he now holds 29 honorary degrees.
Personal life
Lang was born to immigrant parents in 1919 and grew up in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He attended public schools and studied at Townsend Harris High School
Townsend Harris High School
Townsend Harris High School is a public magnet high school for the humanities in the borough of Queens in New York City. Students and alumni often refer to themselves as "Harrisites." Townsend Harris consistently ranks as among the top 100 High Schools in the United States. It currently operates as...
. At the age of 15 he was admitted as a scholarship student to Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
, and received a B.A. in economics in 1938. He then received an M.S. from Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School is the business school of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1916 to provide business training and professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate Columbia University students...
in 1940. He was married to Theresa (Volmar) Lang from 1946 until her death in 2008; they had three children, Jane Lang
Jane Lang
Jane Lang is an arts philanthropist and arts education promoter in Washington, DC. She has been characterized as a neighborhood activist, the primary force responsible for revitalizing a run-down area of Washington, D.C....
, David Lang and actor Stephen Lang
Stephen Lang (actor)
Stephen Lang is an American actor and playwright. He started in theatre on Broadway but is well known for his film portrayals of Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals and George Pickett in Gettysburg , as well as for his 2009 roles as Colonel Miles Quaritch in Avatar and as Texan lawman Charles...
.