Lenfest's philanthropy extends to honoring relatives. The new aquatic center at the Central Bucks Family YMCA is named after Inez Lenfest (nee Hutchinson) of Ardmore, who became his stepmother when his father remarried in 1947. She turns 100 in September. "She brought our family back together," he said.
The Lenfest children are starting to flex their philanthropic muscle.
Diane Lenfest Myer, 47, who turned away family associations by naming her charity the Allerton Foundation, declined to speak for this article. She is clearly interested in animal causes and autism, according to tax forms listing gifts.
H. Chase Lenfest, 45 and a serious squash player, has given through his foundation to athletic organizations, such as the Police Athletic League, and to education and the arts.
Brook J. Lenfest, 40, uses his foundation to support film (he has been a producer) and other arts, as well as issues related to homelessness and incarceration. But the "core focus is on education," he said, especially Mastery Charter Schools, a Philadelphia network of high schools and college-prep schools.
"I saw all the money Annenberg spent on education with no improvement" - Annenberg's $500 million gift to 18 school districts in 1993 did not bring the reform he hoped for - "and thought of ways where maybe I could be involved in improving education systems in Philadelphia."
Of his parents' decision to give away so much of their wealth, he said simply: "I think it's very nice."
The three have been raised with a consciousness about giving, and one day may take up the mantle on a larger scale. Are other potential Gerry and Marguerite Lenfests developing quietly in the community? "I hope so," Rimel said. "I may not have met them yet, but I would love to."
"One of the cool things about philanthropy is people can make wealth - not necessarily in a short period of time, but they can invent a widget or start a service and get wealthy and become philanthropic," said Eileen Heisman, president of the National Philanthropic Trust.
With the Lenfests, though, it's not just the money that makes their presence so large. Their personalities have had a cascading effect on the willingness of others to give.
Case in point: When Gov. Rendell decided to commit $15 million in state money for the expansion of the Curtis Institute, he said he had done so because Gerry twisted his arm.
As Lenfest's twin sister said: "Gerry's a charmer."
Contact culture writer Peter Dobrin at pdobrin@phillynews.com or 215-854-5611. Read his blog at www.philly.com/philly/blogs/artswatch/
