The Schorr Family has been an integral part of the Binghamton area for decades. Now, the family is focusing some of its attention on the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Larry Schorr ’75 and Jenny Schorr, MBA ’81, have created the Schorr Family Foundation, which has helped fund both a scholarship for PharmD students and MS Pharmaceutical Sciences students. Both of these scholarships were established in memory of Max and Sarah Schorr.
Larry Schorr said there’s a very personal connection to explain their support for the school: “My dad was a pharmacist and owned a small pharmacy in Brooklyn, where I worked from the time I was 10 years old, managing the register and learning the business. When we learned a pharmacy school was in progress at the university, we decided it was the perfect time to consolidate our scholarships to benefit the school in honor of my dad’s legacy as a pharmacist. It felt right to pay tribute to the impact he had on me and the skills he instilled from a young age.”
Ashley Johnson, a master’s in science student, said the scholarship has alleviated her financial worries and allows her to focus on pursuing her MS in pharmaceutical sciences.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Schorr Family Foundation for this amazing scholarship,” she said. “As a child of Ghanaian immigrants, I was raised with the values of hard work and determination, and this scholarship has brought me closer to realizing my dream of working in the pharmaceutical industry. It is also incredibly meaningful to me as a Black woman, knowing that I can represent and contribute to such a rewarding field.”
Nicole Nwachukwu, a fourth-year pharmacy student, was overjoyed when she learned she had been chosen as the recipient of the Schorr Family Foundation scholarship, and it has played a significant role in supporting her academic journey.
“This scholarship allows me to focus on my studies and excel during my APPE rotations without the added stress of financial burden,” she said. “Their generosity has not only contributed to my success at SOPPS but has also deeply inspired me to continue working hard and striving for excellence as I pursue my passion for pharmacy. Thank you for your support, which has continuously motivated me to give my best both in my studies and as I prepare for my future career as a pharmacist.”
Jenny Schorr was touched to hear students are already benefitting from their contributions and scholarship.
“We have a longtime fondness for Binghamton, having been students there ourselves, and I later worked as a registrar and in student information systems,” she said. “Seeing this fantastic school succeed and witnessing the impact of our contributions, especially with such a supportive and inspiring dean at the helm, makes us feel deeply connected to this new generation. It’s truly a great feeling to give back to a place that gave us so much.”
For the Schorrs, it’s not just about helping the pharmacy school or seeing its students succeed, but hopefully seeing the entire area of Johnson City find new life.
“We’re connected to the Firehouse Stage across from the pharmacy school, which has our family name, and we’ve long supported efforts to revitalize that area,” said Larry Schorr. “Supporting the pharmacy school was about more than just the students—it was also a way to invest in the community and contribute to the area’s redevelopment, which has been underway for quite a while. It’s deeply meaningful to be involved in something that benefits not only the school and its students but also the theater, the surrounding businesses and, ultimately, the community as a whole.”
He hopes their contributions to the school and area create a ripple effect, one that has a positive impact for years to come.
“We want our legacy to be about helping students who go on to make something of themselves, contribute to society and lead fulfilling lives,” he said. “If we could help even a little during this critical phase of their education, then that’s all we could really hope for. It means the world to us that our support might provide some students the opportunities to succeed and inspire others in their own careers and communities.”
