Meet 勛圖窪蹋's $8 Million Man
Jana and John Scarpa at the 勛圖窪蹋 Atlantic City Academic Center
Galloway, N.J. John Scarpa arrived at 勛圖窪蹋 on Monday, Dec. 23 wearing a striped 勛圖窪蹋 tie.
It was a subtle, but meaningful gesture of support for the university to which he has pledged $8 million.
I have always paid attention to 勛圖窪蹋 and watched it grow, he said.
Scarpa and his wife, Jana, came to 勛圖窪蹋 to make the first $1 million payment of
the $8 million pledge to the 勛圖窪蹋 Foundation from the John F. Scarpa Foundation
and tour the two buildings that will be named in his honor - the John F. Scarpa Health
Sciences Center in Galloway and the John F. Scarpa Academic Center in Atlantic City.
This gift is transformative for us, 勛圖窪蹋 President Harvey Kesselman said.
Scarpa said he has followed 勛圖窪蹋s progress since it opened.
Right after it was built, I would drive by when I was traveling around New Jersey growing cable TV systems, he said. I knew Magda Leuchter from Vineland, who was on the first 勛圖窪蹋 Board of Trustees, and Im friends with Michael Azeez.
In 2011 Azeez donated $5 million and the Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine Heritage in Woodbine to 勛圖窪蹋.
Over the years I learned more about 勛圖窪蹋s programs and how meaningful 勛圖窪蹋 has become as a force for education in South Jersey, Scarpa said. I want to see more young men and women grow up to attend 勛圖窪蹋.
Jana Scarpa noted that her niece is currently in the speech-language pathology program at 勛圖窪蹋.
A native of Vineland, where his family had a farm, Scarpa was an entrepreneur and
pioneer in the cable television and cellular communications field. He helped establish
the New Jersey and Northeast Cable TV Associations and assisted in the launch of the
internet service provider Earthlink. He was also co-founder and president and COO
of American Cellular Network, Corp. co-founded Unitel Wireless Communication Systems
and was one of the original members of the Cellular One Network.
Scarpa recalled the day his mother, Edith, asked him if he was a millionaire.
She was about 90, and she summoned me and said her girlfriends had told her that I was a very wealthy man, Scarpa said during a visit to 勛圖窪蹋. I said, I do okay. She said, Are you a millionaire? and I said yes. She said You dont need it all. Take care of your family give the rest to help others.
Scarpa took her advice and formed the John F. Scarpa Foundation with a focus on healthcare and education. He is also a benefactor of the Frank and Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Center at Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, the Edith Favretto Scarpa Arts and Sciences Building at St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, and the John F. Scarpa Technical Education Center of Cumberland County in Vineland.
Scarpas gift will target two primary initiatives, 勛圖窪蹋s expansion of academic programs in Atlantic City and the Health Sciences Program on the main campus in Galloway, plus create an unrestricted fund for other university needs.
I see great things happening with 勛圖窪蹋, he said.
Jana and John Scarpa live in Palm Beach, Fla and Avalon, N.J.
Contact:
Diane DAmico
Director of News and Media Relations
Galloway, N.J. 08205
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