Jamie Loeper graduated from Bishop Shanahan High School in 1999 and Temple University with a degree in Political Science in May 2003. On January 6, 2004, he was killed while working at a pizza shop in West Philadelphia. When a group of teens came into the shop behaving aggressively, a coworker took out a gun for protection. In the ensuing events, this worker slipped and fatally shot Jamie.

Jamie had a big heart. He was intelligent, interesting, fun loving and sharp-witted. He enjoyed a good conversation, a good story, a good argument and a good joke. He liked real people and had a low tolerance for pretentiousness. He was passionate about music, politics and world events. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, but he wanted it to matter. It did.

In Jamie’s memory, his family and friends have established the Jamie Loeper Memorial Fund at Fellowship Farm. This fund supports programs that work with teens to reduce violence in Philadelphia neighborhoods. The Loeper family has chosen to support the Temple University Youth Voices program through scholarships at Fellowship Farm. This collaborative effort brings 80-90 young people from troubled neighborhoods in Philadelphia to Fellowship Farm where they learn leadership and communication skills as well as principles of non-violence.