Price Philanthropies Brings Marine Science to Low Income Kids With $6 Million Donation

Price Philanthropies will introduce marine science to children from low income families with a $6 million gift to the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, as reported to utsandiego.

The endowment will create aquarium presentations for 10, 000 low income students a year and will sponsor three day science programs to sixth graders. Robert Price of Price Philanthropies, told utsandiego, “We believe students can benefit from hands-on learning. And from children from inner cities whose families are poor, this gives them an opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

Price added that kids who have experienced the wonders of the sea and understand how fragile marine ecosystems are are more likely to be more conscientious regarding the environment.

The funds from Price Philanthropies will comprise most of a total $8.3 million endowment already in place to expand studies of marine science to students who otherwise would not have access to aquariums. Price Philanthropies has also funded educational programs such as those at the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and UC San Diego.

Price Philanthropies was founded by Sol Price, the son of Jewish immigrants from Minsk, and inspired the modern large retail store model. He started Fed Mart and later Price Club, and his son Robert and James Sinegal joined forces in a merger that created Costco. However, Price later spun off his segment from Costco to create PriceSmart.

In his book, Made in America, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton said he borrowed a lot of ideas from Sol Price. When asked in an interview how he felt about being known as the “the father of the warehouse retail industry, ” Sol Price quipped, “I wish I had worn a condom.”