Marvin Samson Award Honoree

Virtua Foundation
Humanitarian
Award
2016
Virtua Foundation’s Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual or
organization that has made significant contributions to improve the
health and well-being of families in our community. Humanitarian
Award Honorees are trailblazers who transform healthcare or other
community resources through extraordinary leadership, innovation
and philanthropic support. Their compassion and generosity inspire
others to participate and establish a legacy that impacts families
today and far into the future.
The Humanitarian Award Honoree will be recognized at the 2016 Virtua Gala.
Foundation
Humanitarian Award Honoree
Marvin Samson
G
rowing up in Philadelphia,
Mr. Samson worked hard for each
and every personal triumph. He
began delivering newspapers at a
very early age. As a high school
student during the 1950s, he was a
drug store clerk, where he earned
50 cents an hour and occasional tips
for delivering prescriptions. After
graduation, he studied chemistry
at Temple University at night, while
working by day at Garde Drug Co.,
a small firm that developed
non-branded versions of leading
over-the-counter medications.
In Marvin Samson’s version of
the American Dream, rising from
poverty to become a highly regarded
businessman and entrepreneur
was only the beginning. The rest
of Mr. Samson’s story evolved
around a determination to leverage
his success to improve the lives
of others.
These early experiences would set
the stage for Mr. Samson to become
a leading generic drug entrepreneur
with a passion for supporting
advances in health care, especially
in his own community.
Throughout his career, Mr. Samson
helped found and lead a number of
pharmaceutical-related companies
including: Elkins-Sinn, Inc., (today,
West-Ward Pharmaceuticals);
Marsam Pharmaceuticals Inc., and
Samson Medical Technologies, L.L.C.,
a company specializing in injectable
drug delivery systems for hospital
and alternate site pharmacists. He
also holds five U.S. patents pertaining
to pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Mr. Samson dedicates his leadership
to numerous charitable and industry
boards. He serves as Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the University of
the Sciences in Philadelphia and was
its Interim President for the 2011-12
and part of 2014-15 academic years.
In addition, he is a member of the
Virtua Board of Directors, and
serves on the boards of NanoPass
Technologies Ltd., Flynn Pharma,
Antares Pharma Inc., The Franklin
Institute and Cooper Rowan Medical
School. He is a past chairman of the
Generic Pharmaceutical Association
and a past president of the PDE, a
pharmaceutical trade association.
Mr. Samson dedicates his time,
talent and support to a number
of organizations across the region.
He is deeply committed to building
a better future for South Jersey
families, particularly through his
partnership with Virtua.
Virtua and the Foundation are
honored by Mr. Samson’s commitment and are proud to recognize
him as the 2016 Virtua Foundation
Humanitarian Award Recipient.
Marvin Samson visits with pediatric patient families at Virtua Voorhees.
Marvin Samson surrounded by his family at the dedication of the Marvin Samson Foundation Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Units at
Virtua Voorhees on May 31, 2012.
F
or many years, Mr. Samson made
charitable contributions anonymously. He gave not for attention
or accolades, but to transform
organizations and industries that
impact the quality of life for families
in his community. In 2011, he made
his first public gift to Virtua
Foundation: $1 million to establish
a state-of-the art centralized
medication distribution service.
This gives Virtua hospitals the
safest, most efficient medication
management system available.
“Someone I very much respected
said to me, ‘If you are going to give
something, you should put your
name on it; it will encourage others
to do the same,‘“ said Mr. Samson.
“I do not see my investment
While Mr. Samson’s expertise is
in pharmaceuticals, his true passion
is to support children and ensure a
better future for young people in
our communities. This is why
Virtua Foundation recognized his
philanthropic commitment by
naming the Pediatric and Pediatric
Intensive Care units at Virtua
one of the kids we help here
He spoke publicly about this
transformational gift because he
believes his commitment will encourage and inspire others to give.
Voorhees hospital in his honor.
as one of bricks and mortar.
It’s more far reaching.
I invest in people. Perhaps
at Virtua will discover a novel
cure for cancer, will find a
renewable energy source,
create beautiful art or music,
write great fiction or raise
amazing children who lead
our country into the future.”
– Marvin Samson
Please join
Virtua and Virtua Foundation
as we honor
Marvin Samson
at the
2016 Virtua Gala
on Saturday, March 5, 2016
at the
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
in Atlantic City.
For sponsorship information and tickets
visit foundation.virtua.org
Foundation