Leon Levine
Encyclopedia
Leon Levine is an American
businessman and philanthropist
that founded the Family Dollar
chain of discount stores.
on June 8, 1937. He is the son of a local department store owner. As a boy he did work at his father's store. His father died in 1949 leaving Levine's older brother in charge of the store with the younger Levine being second in command. In 1951 Leon's brother was drafted into the Korean War
, which left him in charge of the business at age 15.
, and attended Wingate College, now Wingate University
. After learning that his product didn't sell very well he found a market in Puerto Rico
and successfully sold his factory's product. In 1959 he visited a store in Kentucky that sold nothing for over a dollar. He liked the concept and in November opened up a similar store in the 1500 block of Central Avenue in Charlotte that sold items for no more than 2 dollars. He named it Family Dollar
for the affordability of its products and the demographic that it was aimed towards.
He and his wife currently reside in Charlotte, North Carolina
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
that founded the Family Dollar
Family Dollar
Family Dollar is a regional chain of variety stores in the United States. It opened in 1959 and operates approximately 6,617 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia. It is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina....
chain of discount stores.
Early life
Levine was born in Wadesboro, North CarolinaWadesboro, North Carolina
Wadesboro is a town in Anson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,780 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Anson County.-Geography:Wadesboro is located at ....
on June 8, 1937. He is the son of a local department store owner. As a boy he did work at his father's store. His father died in 1949 leaving Levine's older brother in charge of the store with the younger Levine being second in command. In 1951 Leon's brother was drafted into the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, which left him in charge of the business at age 15.
Business Life
After his years in charge of the family business, Levine purchased a bedspread factory in Wingate, North CarolinaWingate, North Carolina
Wingate is a town in Union County, North Carolina and a suburb of the city of Charlotte. The population was 2,406 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wingate is located at ....
, and attended Wingate College, now Wingate University
Wingate University
Wingate University was founded by Baptists in 1896 as Wingate School, an independent, co-educational institution and became a four-year college in 1977. In 1996, Wingate College became Wingate University....
. After learning that his product didn't sell very well he found a market in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and successfully sold his factory's product. In 1959 he visited a store in Kentucky that sold nothing for over a dollar. He liked the concept and in November opened up a similar store in the 1500 block of Central Avenue in Charlotte that sold items for no more than 2 dollars. He named it Family Dollar
Family Dollar
Family Dollar is a regional chain of variety stores in the United States. It opened in 1959 and operates approximately 6,617 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia. It is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina....
for the affordability of its products and the demographic that it was aimed towards.
Personal life
Leon, along with his wife Sandra Levine (née Poliakoff) http://www.levinechildrenshospital.org/body_nospace.cfm?id=33, an Anderson, SC native, have been involved in numerous charitable and philanthropic causes. Sandra Levine has served on the Board of Commissioners of the Carolinas Healthcare System. They have three grown children along with 6 grandchildren. Through their community achievements they having the pleasure of having many things in the state bear their last name. He is also a member of the North Carolina Business Hall of FameHe and his wife currently reside in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.
Philanthropic Efforts
- UNCCUniversity of North Carolina at CharlotteThe University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
: UNCC http://publicrelations.uncc.edu/default.asp?id=15&objId=570 - Central Piedmont Community CollegeCentral Piedmont Community CollegeCentral Piedmont Community College is a large community college in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The school was founded in 1963; it is the result of a merger between Mecklenburg College and the Central Industrial Education Center....
: Levine Campus http://www.cpcc.edu/campuses/levine - Levine Children's HospitalLevine Children's HospitalThe Levine Children's Hospital is a 234 bed pediatric hospital located on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The hospital opened its doors in October 2007. It is named after businessman Leon Levine....
http://www.levinechildrenshospital.org/body_nospace.cfm?id=33 - Levine Jewish Community Center http://www.charlottejcc.org/ and Shalom Park http://www.jewishcharlotte.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=158478
- Levine Museum of the New SouthLevine Museum of the New SouthThe Levine Museum of the New South, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a history museum focusing on life in the North Carolina Piedmont after the American Civil War...
http://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/ - Levine Science Research CenterLevine Science Research CenterThe Levine Science Research Center is a facility on Duke University's west campus located at 450 Research Drive Durham, NC 27708. The LSRC is currently the largest single-site interdisciplinary research facility in the U.S...
at Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B... - Levine School of Health Sciences at Wingate UniversityWingate UniversityWingate University was founded by Baptists in 1896 as Wingate School, an independent, co-educational institution and became a four-year college in 1977. In 1996, Wingate College became Wingate University....