CHARLOTTE — Family Dollar founder and North Carolina philanthropist Leon Levine died Wednesday, his foundation confirmed to Channel 9. He was 85.
Levine, who shared his fortune with health care, education and community causes in Charlotte, funded North Carolina’s biggest scholarship programs. Levine has helped a number of other organizations. He took classes at Wingate College, but never graduated.
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Levine opened the first Family Dollar Store on Charlotte’s Central Avenue in 1959. The story still stands today.
The Leon Levine Foundation has granted more than $450 million to various causes.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said Levine had a “profound” impact on Charlotte.
“I’m thankful to have gotten to know Leon over the years, and my thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sandra and his family. As a leader in philanthropy and business, Leon will be greatly missed,” she said in a statement on Twitter.
Channel 9′s Evan Donovan spoke to Mark Price, a longtime reporter for McClatchy. While at the Charlotte Observer, he covered Leon Levine and his philanthropy for years.
“When he created his Leon Levine Foundation, he began actively looking for ways to help. And the end result touched the medical community, the faith community, and countless charities,” Price said. “He fed people, he sheltered people.”
The chancellor for UNC Charlotte, which has a scholarship named after Levine as well as a dorm, released the following statement after his passing:
“Leon Levine and his wife, Sandra, have been stalwart supporters of UNC Charlotte,” Sharon Gaber said. “Through their generosity, hundreds of Levine Scholars have had the opportunity to pursue excellence in the classroom, while giving back to the community around them. UNC Charlotte sends its deepest condolences to Sandra Levine and the entire Levine family as we mourn the passing of a man who helped transform education at our University and has improved the lives of countless Charlotteans.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
(WATCH BELOW: UNC Charlotte hosts dance marathon, raises money for Levine’s Children’s Hospital)
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