Anthony Welters (born 1955) is an American businessman and philanthropist. Welters Lobby, inside

New York University School of Law The New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University, a private research university in New York City. Established in 1835, it was the first law school established in New York City and is the oldest survivin ...

's Vanderbilt Hall, is now named for him. He is a 1977 graduate of the school. His portrait, which hangs in the lobby, was painted by Jamie Lee McMahan.

Early life

Welters was born in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...

in 1955. He grew in a one-room tenement with three brothers. His father worked as a shipping clerk in Manhattan's garment district. His mother died, from an allergic reaction to a

penicillin Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of beta-lactam antibiotic, β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' Mold (fungus), moulds, principally ''Penicillium chrysogenum, P. chrysogenum'' and ''Penicillium rubens, P. ru ...

injection, when Welters was eight years old. He graduated from the

in 1977.

Career

Welters is the executive chairman of the BlackIvy Group. With his wife, Beatrice, he founded the AnBryce Scholarship Program, which provides full

scholarship A scholarship is a form of Student financial aid, financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, Multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion, athleti ...

s for first-generation students pursuing a professional degree. Welters is vice chair of New York University's board of trustees, as well as that of the

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

. He is also a founding member of the

National Museum of African American History and Culture The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), colloquially known as the Blacksonian, is a Smithsonian Institution museum located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It was established in 2003 an ...

. He is executive vice-president of

UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is an American Multinational corporation, multinational for-profit company specializing in health insurance and health care services based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Selling insurance products under UnitedHealth ...

(UHG), having founded its predecessor, AmeriChoice, in 1989.

Awards

Welters has received the National Medical Fellowships Humanitarian Award, the

Horatio Alger Award The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is a nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, that was founded in 1947 to promote and ensure the American Dream for future generations, honor the achievements of outstanding Un ...

and the African American Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Award.

Relationship with Clarence Thomas

Welters provided a $267,000 loan to

Clarence Thomas Clarence Thomas (born June 23, 1948) is an American lawyer and jurist who has served since 1991 as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. President George H. W. Bush nominated him to succeed Thurgood Marshall. Afte ...

in connection with the

Supreme Court Justice The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest-ranking judicial body in the United States. Its membership, as set by the Judiciary Act of 1869, consists of the chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices, any six of ...

's purchase of a luxury

recreational vehicle A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, coaches, caravans (also known as travel trailers and ca ...

. It is unclear to what extent Thomas paid back the loan, but some of the loan was forgiven.https://www.npr.org/2023/10/25/1208600160/new-clarence-thomas-ethics-questions-about-forgiveness-on-luxury-rv-loan

Personal life

In 2019, the lobby of the NYU School of Law's Vanderbilt Hall was named in his honor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Welters, Anthony 1955 births Living people American philanthropists American businesspeople New York University School of Law alumni