SOURCE OF WEALTH: Millburn Ridgefield Corporation
FUNDING AREAS: Jewish Causes, Education, Medicine, Community
OVERVIEW: Harvey Beker, his wife, Jayne, and family conduct their philanthropy through the Beker Foundation, established in 1984. The foundation mission’s is to invest in organizations doing creative, community-centered, and collaborative work, both Jewish and secular. According to available tax filings, the Beker Foundation awarded $1.3 million in grants in 2017.
BACKGROUND: Harvey Beker received a bachelor’s degree in economics from New York University in 1974 and an MBA in finance from NYU in 1975. Beker was employed at Loeb Rhoades, Inc. where he developed and traded silver arbitrage strategies. He went on to Millburn Ridgefield Corporation, where he served as co-chairman.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION: The Bekers fund education at all levels, with a particular eye towards Jewish institutions. Beker is on the board of governors of Hillel: Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, which the family has steadily funded. Beker has supported his alma mater NYU. Yeshiva University, and where Jayne serves as a trustee emerita, is also an important grantee. The family has also strongly supported Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and Brandeis University. With a $1 million grant to the Shalem Center in 2010, the Beckers helped launch Shalem College, Israel’s first liberal arts college, according to the center. The couple also supports Jewish day schools like Gann Academy and Maimonides School in Massachusetts, as well as Ramaz School and SAR Academy in New York City. The family also supports Jewish camp and youth outfits like Foundation for Jewish Camp and JCC Camp Kingswood.
MEDICINE: Grantees have included Riverdale Hatzalah, Cape Cod Health Care, Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation, and American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
COMMUNITY: Both New York City and Boston metro areas are important regions for this family. Grantmaking involves Jewish community organizations like UJA-Federation, Hebrew Home at Riverdale Foundation, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, and Chabad Jewish Center. Other grantees have included Boston Children’s Museum, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Wave Hill in Riverdale.
OTHER: The Bekers also support Jewish religious institutions and outfits that work for/in Israel.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Bekers’ Northeast focus to continue in their philanthropy. Down the line, keep an eye on the couple’s children, who are already involved with the foundation.
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