Burton Weil, a lifelong Memphian, businessman, attorney, and entrepreneur, has committed to strengthening Memphis through “move the needle” grants from the Burton Weil Family Foundation. 

In his late 70s, after raising his two children, Shirley and Steven, and achieving a level of financial success in business that he never expected, Burton was at a loss for what to do with his remaining wealth. Collaboration with the Jewish Foundation of Memphis in 2022 prompted his decision to create the Burton Weil Family Foundation (The Foundation). The Foundation is his legacy, representing the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and perseverance. He now runs the Foundation with his adult children as a team. 

The first major investment of the Burton Weil Family Foundation addresses an important priority of Weil: academic excellence. The Weil Scholars program is a unique academic effort established to attract some of the nation’s top-performing students to the University of Memphis. 

Unlike other academic initiatives at the University of Memphis (UofM), the Weil Scholars Program – acceptance of which is based on academic merit – offers opportunities to undergraduate students, graduate students, and students at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The program also benefits medical students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center School of Medicine. Burton believes that investing in future leaders will help strengthen the City of Memphis and feels privileged to help outstanding students develop their talents and pursue their passions.

A “little better than average” student himself (his own words), Burton attended the University of Tennessee, earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Memphis in 1966, and his law degree from Vanderbilt University. His career path led him to found Venture Associates Partners, a private equity firm.

Burton’s life took many turns and there were some setbacks, but throughout it all he persevered. This “stick-to-it” attitude still motivates him today and confirms his belief that everyone can turn a weakness into a strength, that failure is part of life, and finding something that is motivating and sticking to it is an important life lesson. 

The Burton Weil Family Foundation is a true family effort. Following in their father’s footsteps, Shirley Weil and Steven Weil are also engaging in philanthropic giving through the Foundation themselves. In addition to the Weil Scholars program, other organizations receiving current or past support from the Foundation include CHOICES: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health, Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, Memphis Child Advocacy Center, Memphis Jewish Federation, REACH Memphis, and Temple Israel.