Planned gifts help ensure that the engaging programs, in-depth resources, and crucial services of the Free Library will be available for future generations to depend on and enjoy. D. Jacques Benoliel was one of the first to support the Library through a planned gift, creating the foundation for the Library’s world-renowned Dickens collection. We honor his important legacy through The Benoliel Society. The Benoliel Society recognizes those thoughtful individuals who have made a planned gift to the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation. Benoliel members are thanked each year at an annual reception and enjoy access to special programing. Join the many others who, like you, understand the lasting value of the Library and the importance of sustaining its future. We invite you to become part of The Benoliel Society by making the planned gift that's right for you.
Benoliel Society Members
- Ihsan Ahmed
- Joseph F. Baker
- Sherrin Baky-Nessler
- Carl J. Balis
- Sheila and Myron Bassman
- Khadija Benaissa
- Peter A. Benoliel and Willo Carey
- Sally Cooper Bleznak
- Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz
- Andrea Boyd
- Carol Buettger
- Helen and Robert* Buttel
- Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr.
- Joseph Cesa
- Carol Shlifer Clapp
- Rebecca L. Craik and Mark Haskins
- John W. Cunningham, Jr.
- Peggy and Mark Curchack
- Prudence W. Dalrymple
- Victoria and Colin Dawson
- Doris N. Desher
- Tobey and Mark Dichter
- Donkey Dover, Jr.
- Amy Finkelstein
- Graham Finney
- Maureen Flanagan
- Drs. Barbara* and Leonard Frank
- Barbara F. Freed and Alan Mittelman
- Jill Friedman-Rickman
- Professor Eileen Gambrill
- Elaine Gelb and Marc Pachtman
- Bob Gelsher
- Bruce J. Gould
- Peggy and Rich Greenawalt
- Antoinette Hoagland
- Warren D. Hoffman
- Edward W. Hoy
- Katherine Huseman and William Rich
- Charles Keates
- Marlyn and Norman Kline
- Deborah Komins
- Bernice Koplin
- Barbara S.M. Kretchmar
- Sue D. and Reinhard* Kruse
- Magali and Charles Larson
- Anne Silvers Lee and Wynn Lee
- Betty and Philip Leifer
- Sabina Leybold
- Ellen Linky-Heiman and William Heiman
- The Loki's Fund
- Mickey and Larry Magid
- Andrew Mangravite
- Randi and William Marrazzo
- Jane R. and Dr. Bernard A. Mason
- Priscilla Seïbert McDougal
- Kim and Tom Moon
- Tara Lynne Murphy
- Anita M. Myette
- Stephanie and Michael Naidoff
- Linda and Jeffrey Needleman
- Frances Novack
- Susan Odessey
- Neil A. Oxman, Esq.
- Shirley A. Page
- Marilyn Phister
- Nancy D. Pontone
- Israel T. Radl
- Polly Riddle
- Marcia J. Rogers
- Eileen Rosenau
- J. Randall Rosensteel*
- Patricia and Scott Schultz
- Wallace Sliwinski
- Susan G. Smith
- Miriam and Arthur Spector
- Hannah Spielberg
- Evelyn G. Spritz
- Sherry A. Swirsky
- Nadeen Van Tuyle and Gilbert Feinberg
- Debra Weiner
- Heather Winett
- Mara and Kenneth Wolfgang
- Anonymous (3)
List as of June 30, 2023
For more information, please contact The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation at 215-567-7710 or giving@freelibrary.org
Libraries have played a significant role in Graham Finney’s life, from exploring books as a child in his local library to doing research and writing these days at the Free Library of Philadelphia. This year, he decided to strongly support the Free Library by making a bequest to the Free Library Foundation through his estate.
“My planned gift is an investment in peoples’ education and connection to ideas, topics, and relationships needed to live a quality life in today’s fast-changing world,” he says. “The Free Library bridges past, present, and future, both the written and digital worlds, and is accessible to all. The Library serves all ages, races, incomes, and backgrounds, which is something that very few major institutions are committed to doing. My planned gift isn’t by any means enormous, but I know it will be carefully used and added sensibly to others when received.”
Graham is a retired urban planner and management consultant. He came to Philadelphia as Deputy Executive Director of the Planning Commission and later served as its Chair under Mayor W. Wilson Goode, Sr. As a Deputy Superintendent of Schools, he worked closely with Board Chair Richardson Dilworth. After serving as Commissioner of Addiction Services in New York City, he returned to Philadelphia to start up and manage several civic and business organizations. As a founding board member of Mastery Charter Schools, Graham holds a deep commitment to the importance of libraries as community centers.
“I’m always working on something that takes me to a library’s peace and quiet,” he says. “I prize spending hours writing and reading in various reference rooms at the Parkway Central Library, in between coffee and fig bars at the H.O.M.E.Page Café.”
When he’s not working on his own writing, Graham and his wife, Katharine—a retired teacher who brought her students to Parkway Central’s Rare Book Department annually—enjoy attending the award-winning Author Events Series. They have four children and nine grandchildren and live in Philadelphia’s Mt. Airy neighborhood.