Profile of a Scholarship Donor
In 2001, Mickey Langsfeld, D’64, and his brother Robert Langsfeld, established a named scholarship in honor of their mother, Anita Grossman Langsfeld
Mickey Langsfeld, D'64 and Dean Richard Gelles
Anita Grossman Langsfeld had served on the Board of Overseers for over twenty years when her health began to limit her mobility. Given that she was well into her seventies, she decided that it was time to resign her position on the Board. Much to her surprise, however, her resignation was denied. Although she was no longer able to attend the meetings, the Board continued to involve her; developing an arrangement in which other Board members visited her at home after the meetings to relay what had been discussed and to seek her input on issues. This is just one example of the mutual respect that existed between Anita and the School during her 24 years on the Board of Overseers (1973 – 1994), but it was one of the main reasons why her sons, Robert and Morton (Mickey), decided to establish a scholarship in her name after she passed away in 2001.
But it was not the only reason: a named scholarship also offered an opportunity to honor her commitment to social work, while celebrating the many ways in which she was a pioneer in the field. In 1933, her first social work endeavor was working with the organization that later became the United Way. Here, she became the first woman to hold the position of Vice President and serve on the Allocations Committee in Philadelphia. Her commitment to the community extended beyond the United Way, and she was also the first woman president and/or vice president of many Philadelphia organizations, including the Federation of Jewish Agencies, the World Affairs Council, and the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies.
Given the numerous agencies and organizations with which their mother had worked, why did they decide to create a scholarship at the School of Social Policy & Practice? As Mickey explains, endowing a scholarship at SP² honored his mother’s deep regard for education and acknowledged her commitment to the School. The Langsfelds also have strong ties to the University because, according to Mickey, “most of his family” attended Penn: he is a graduate of the School of Dental Medicine (as was his grandfather) and his wife graduated from the College of Women. Moreover, all three of his children attended Penn (two hold Penn degrees and although the third officially graduated from another university, he spent his senior year here). Mickey shares the same reunion cycle with his daughter and his niece, so they return to campus at the same time to celebrate their reunions.
The Langsfeld Scholarship is given to a student whose commitment to the community mirrors the level at which Mrs. Langsfeld contributed to the field throughout her career. In Mickey’s words, the scholarship supports a student who is doing “something exceptional in the community, who is doing more than she has to do.” This year’s recipient, Carla Merchan, is an advanced year student who concentrates on social work and criminal justice. To read Carla’s profile, click here.
As one of the donors who attended the Scholarship Tea on October 19, Mickey heard the stories of over 20 scholarship recipients. Each student had a unique reason for pursuing a degree in social work, but as a group they all shared the same passion for social justice. It was this passion and commitment that truly impressed Mickey: he believes that “Penn is very lucky” to have such talented students. In much the same way, the School is very fortunate to have donors like Mickey who make it possible for these remarkable students to attend Penn. To read more about scholarships at the School, click here.