Temple University today announced an historic $27.5 million gift to the new home for the Klein College of Media and Communication and the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts. The commitment comes from Sidney and Caroline Kimmel and is the largest in Temple’s 141-year history. In recognition of this tremendous gift, the new home will be named the Caroline Kimmel Pavilion for Arts and Communication.
“The philanthropic legacy of Sidney and Caroline Kimmel is simply extraordinary, most especially in Philadelphia, and this historic gift is the latest example. The impact of their unprecedented commitment will reverberate across the Temple community for decades, and we are deeply grateful for the Kimmels’ support,” said Temple President John Fry. “This is a gift that touches all members of the Temple community—students, faculty, staff, alumni and neighbors alike—as the new home for the Klein College and the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts will serve all these important audiences. Philadelphia is a better place because of the continued charitable contributions of Sidney and Caroline Kimmel, which makes it fitting that one of the hallmark buildings at Temple University—Philadelphia’s public research university—will soon bear the Kimmel name.”
Announced in November, advance site preparation work is now underway for a new building on the west side of North Broad Street that will expand and modernize teaching spaces for Klein College; the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts; and the Boyer College of Music and Dance. Just as importantly, the new 199,000-square-foot facility will also serve as a community hub for activity, education and entertainment.
“This gift to Temple is very important to me for several reasons,” said Sidney Kimmel. “First, it is a demonstration of my tremendous love and affection for Caroline, who is so very deserving of this honor. I am grateful to her beyond words. Second, Temple is Philadelphia and Philadelphia is Temple. I love the city and have ‘invested’ heavily in it. How terrific is it to invest in Temple at this inflection point in its history? The campus, the community and the city all win. Last, but in no way least, I cannot think of a more important time to stand up, loudly and clearly, to support Temple as it opens this new chapter in its storied history. Temple is the embodiment of diversity and inclusivity: No matter who you are or where you are from, Temple is opportunity, a launching pad for those with drive who are willing to work hard. Forty percent of its most-recent class are first-generation college students. That was me decades ago and, although I was drawn too fast into the working world and never graduated, I have always held ‘cherry and white’ in my aspirations. Now is a most fitting time for Caroline and me to make a statement with our commitment to Temple’s mission and point the way for others to follow.”
Born in 1928, Sidney Kimmel grew up in Philadelphia during the Great Depression, the son of a cab driver. After two tours of duty in the Army and a brief stint at Temple University, Sidney took his first jobs in the garment business as an inventory clerk then a traveling salesman for a women’s wear manufacturer. By 1959, he had joined Villager as a knitwear designer, rising to the position of president and CEO within a decade. Soon Mr. Kimmel parlayed his instincts for style, design and business into his own clothing line, Jones New York, targeting the young, fashion-conscious career women of the era.
The company grew to more than $5 billion in revenues as one of the leading designers and marketers of branded apparel, footwear and accessories in the New York fashion industry and came to include many recognizable brands, among them Nine West, Anne Klein, Stuart Weitzman, Joan & David, Gloria Vanderbilt, Barneys New York and Kurt Geiger. Mr. Kimmel stepped down as Jones’ CEO in 2002, remaining as its chair until 2014 when Sycamore Partners bought it for nearly $2.2 billion. After leaving his full-time role at Jones, he created the film production companies, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and SK Global, producing more than 70 feature films, notably including United 93, The Kite Runner, Moneyball, The Lincoln Lawyer, Hell or High Water, Crazy Rich Asians, and the most recent hit, Anyone But You.
It was in the years after Mr. Kimmel took Jones New York public in 1991 that he began his philanthropic work in earnest. Since that time, Sidney has given away most of his assets to charitable causes, leading his peers by his generous example. And, after his marriage to Caroline in 1999, the Kimmels have pursued their passion for giving, committing more than $850 million to various philanthropic causes, not just in Philadelphia but with impact around the world as among the largest individual donors to cancer research.
An official groundbreaking for the new facility, which has been designed by international architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, will be held May 14. Following the groundbreaking, the project will enter the construction phase, which is expected to take at least 30 months. The building is expected to be open for use by the Temple community at the start of the fall 2027 semester.