Wilbur C. and Betty Lea Henderson FoundationThis donation honors the legacy of the late Wilbur Henderson, a 1947 graduate of Drexel, a World War II veteran and a well-known real estate developer in the Philadelphia region.
“We are deeply grateful to the Wilbur C. and Betty Lea Henderson Foundation for this generous and transformational gift," Drexel University President John Fry said in a press release.
Drexel said the institute will serve as a hub of research and connect industry leaders with faculty and students. The Henderson Foundation's gift will also create a fund to allow students to engage directly in property investment and development and co-invest with the university and its partners. Additionally, a seed fund will be created to help jumpstart student projects in the real estate field.