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Giving to Lehigh > Shine Forever > Campaign News and Stories > Jane P. and Luke Weinstock '36

Louis (or “Luke,” as his friends call him) Weinstock’s philosophy on charitable giving is unique, and when you think about it, you know he’s got it right. “Giving should be fun”—that’s Luke’s motto. If his and his dear late wife’s philanthropy is any indication, they surely have had loads of fun in their more than 50 years of giving at Lehigh University.

Aside from 50-plus years of annual support to Lehigh, Luke and Jane Weinstock established an Endowed Scholarship Fund and an Artist-in-Residence Endowment for the Music Department; funded the President’s House restoration which was featured in Architectural Digest, and provided the leadership gift for the Jane and Louis Weinstock Center for Journalism at Coppee Hall.

The most recent additions to an already extraordinary record of giving are the establishment of the Louis and Jane P. Weinstock Endowed Chair in Art and Architecture and the Louis and Jane P. Weinstock Zoellner Arts Center Endowment Fund.

Also generous with his time, Luke received the Class of 1936 Alumni Award and the James Ward Packard Award and founded and was president of the Lehigh Palm Beach Alumni Club. In fact, wherever they lived, Luke and Jane devoted much of their time toward civic and community affairs. Luke was active in the Community Chest boards in Palm Beach, Florida, and Long Island, New York, the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, and served as vice president of the San Diego chapter of the English-speaking Union, an international organization that promotes cooperation among English-speaking nations.

Jane, who passed away late last year, was an equal partner in their unwavering support of Lehigh. “She was a real leader in our community and also had a great love of Lehigh,” recalls Luke. “She was often asked, “Are you sure you didn’t go to Lehigh?’” She assembled an impressive resume of civic and community volunteerism that included Planned Parenthood in Long Island, the Red Cross, Board of District Nursing and the Community Council.

Summing up their philosophy about philanthropic efforts, Luke says, “One thing that goes back, even to the early days of our community work, is the idea that education is one of the most important things. We’ve always felt strongly about Lehigh and its scholarship program because we believe in the value of education. We’ve always wanted to help Lehigh in any way we can.”