Biography

Growing up as one of 10 children in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, instilled in Mary Ammon, SSW ’86, the value of a dollar and the importance of sharing. “My mother taught me that you always share a portion of what you have with those in need,” says Mary. “In my family, we have always been givers.” Mary earned her bachelor’s degree in the administration of justice from the University of Pittsburgh and later went on to earn a master’s of social work from Temple University. Now retired, Mary made a lasting impact on the communities she served throughout her career.

She helped to write the Family Caregiving Act while at the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging and to establish the geriatric program at the American Red Cross. Mary’s belief in giving back is fully embraced by her husband, Gary, LAW ’92. From 2005 until 2019, the Mary & Gary Ammon School of Social Work Scholarship Fund provided a yearly scholarship to a graduate student. Together, in 2014, the family teamed up with The Concerned Black Men of Philadelphia, a youth mentoring agency, to support a scholarship fund for undergraduates attending the College of Public Health. 

In 2014, Mary was honored with the School of Social Work Impact Award for her efforts to establish a legacy of giving. For more than 15 years, her gifts and pledges have provided numerous scholarships and aid to the College’s students. She has also partnered with her brother to establish an endowment for students enrolled in Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine.