I grew up in a family that valued giving back and supporting causes that were important to them, from education and supporting Israeli/Palestinian peace and humanitarian efforts to wilderness protection. My father cherished the natural world and supported organizations, such as the Wilderness Society, working to safeguard the environment and wild places. So early on, I came to understand the complexities of what it means to give back. I learned that philanthropy and advocacy are inextricably linked and crucial to making impact in the world: altering existing structural systems, transforming attitudes, and changing behavior on a large scale. The role of philanthropy — the root of the word literally means “love of mankind”— is supporting organizations that do just that, addressing systemic problems that require public engagement, and regulatory changes.
My husband and I support organizations that practice strategic advocacy to protect our planet, both our oceans and our lands. I am delighted to sit on the board of Oceana, which uses the best of science to influence the regulatory framework for protecting our oceans. I’m also a board member of We Are Family Foundation, which supports training and mentoring of next generation leaders for ideas, innovation, and social change, through their Global Teen Leaders program. In the social impact space, I am a mission board member of IMAGINE, a group which creates powerful pacts amongst CEO’s in the fashion industry to voluntarily commit to biodiversity protection and reductions in plastic pollution and CO2 emissions, and among food collective CEOs who are working to transform our food system, making it more sustainable. As a collective, their strength is far greater than any one company could ever achieve alone.
Here on the East End, we support institutions that help those in need and make a difference in individual lives, as well as those organizations that get to the root causes of issues. From The Bridgehampton Childcare & Recreational Center that provided essential meals during the pandemic, The Southampton Arts Center offering health, wellness, and family programming throughout the year, and the Madoo Garden Conservancy holding classes for kids and showcasing both art and garden design into the landscapes of the East End, to The Peconic Land Trust working to protect farm land and doing the important work of keeping our East End agriculturally rich, The South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center (SOFO), working to foster an appreciation for the natural world and bringing awareness to our relationship to our bio region through education, and the Hampton International Film Festival’s Air, Land + Sea Program, which uses the power of film and storytelling to illuminate the issues of climate bio diversity and soil and ocean health. These are just a few of the organizations helping us understand the beauty of the East End and working to protect the diversity of our oceans, keep our agricultural lands healthy, and support our local communities.
Philanthropy is about generosity in all of its forms — time, talent, and treasure. In other words, we all can find a way to be philanthropic. And if you love something, you will work to protect it. I know many of us return to this beautiful part of the world and many people live here year-round. There are countless opportunities to care for the people and places and animals around us. The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, the Bridgehampton Reading Association and Horticultural Society, the Bridgehampton Fire House Association, made up of volunteers working as EMTs to support the health and well-being of our community members, are a few more, and the list just goes on and on!
Our personal philanthropy is guided by three pillars: family, art, nature. I love our home on the East End where I have memories of family and wholesome times of ocean play, of soaking in the beauty from the privet hedges, bird song, local markets, and farm grown food, to the sandy beaches and ocean waves. We are blessed with an outstanding diversity of art and natural landscape. Part of my philanthropy is to protect that beauty, to protect the natural world because without space for healing, without time for reflection, we risk a disconnection from our relationship with our magnificent earth.
Let’s all protect what is precious. We are here on earth for such a short period of time. I fall in love with the places that bring me joy and by cherishing those places, I choose to not use pesticides. I eat clean and mostly green. I follow my curiosity and run with conviction towards what I love. The problems of our local communities, and of the larger world, are not going to be solved today but seeking continuous improvement is vital and possible. I believe philanthropy and advocacy ripples out to create a greater flourishing and possibility for all humans and sentient beings. May we all find it in our hearts and minds to give to those organizations working to make our world a more beautiful, loving, and caring place for all.