Howard R. Levine, ’81, business major, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Family Dollar Stores, Inc., has created an endowment to support Carolina’s undergraduate and graduate students pursuing academic studies and scholarly research in the field of Jewish Studies.

“Through this gift, I hope students will have a more enriching college experience and perhaps have the means to take advantage of learning opportunities that otherwise might not be within their financial reach,” said Levine.

The Howard R. Levine Student Excellence Fund in Jewish Studies was created through a $500,000 pledge. When fully funded, the endowment will provide the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies with a permanent source of funding to further the teaching mission of the Center. The endowment will support student research inside and outside of the classroom, including student travel and study abroad during the academic year and the summer months; it will support academic field trips to extend the classroom experience into the community; it will enable the Center to bring in visitors to campus to meet with students and deliver unique programs; and finally, it will ensure that the Center is in a position to expand its course offerings to meet rising student demand.

“We are so thankful to Howard and his family for this generous and inspiring gift to the Center and to Carolina’s students,” said Jonathan Hess, director. “The level of study and the quality of the research conducted by UNC students is truly impressive. Now, thanks to the Levine family, our students can participate in more projects and programs than ever before.”

“I’ve been following the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies for a few years now and I’ve heard nothing but positive things about the program and its growth. Furthermore, I like that the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies program attracts students with different backgrounds and a range of interests,” added Levine. “As a Carolina alumnus with interest in supporting Jewish organizations and causes, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to support my alma mater in a way that was personal to me. I was born and raised in Charlotte, I’m a Tar Heel fan, and I’m delighted that I can give back to Carolina’s students.”

For more information on supporting the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies and students who study Jewish Studies, please contact Margaret Costley at the Arts and Sciences Foundation: 919-843-0345 or margaret.costley@unc.edu .