ABOUT AFIPOABOUT AFIPOABOUT AFIPO

OUR MISSION

American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO) supports the world-class Israel Philharmonic (IPO), enabling the IPO to enrich diverse audiences around the world in its role as Israel’s preeminent cultural ambassador.

OUR HISTORY

American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic was formally established in 1980 to increase the reach of the Israel Philharmonic through financial support of national and international tours and educational programs. However, American philanthropic support for the Orchestra has existed since the Israel Philharmonic’s founding in 1936. Albert Einstein hosted the first fundraiser for the orchestra at the Waldorf Astoria New York in 1938.

AFIPO MILESTONES

AFIPO has played a crucial role in providing support for the IPO. Over the years, AFIPO has celebrated numerous milestones, including landmark performances, international tours, and significant fundraising achievements.

AFIPO IMPACT

Make a Difference

The American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic plays a crucial role in supporting the Israel Philharmonic thanks to the generosity of our community of donors. Your gift goes directly towards supporting the mission of the IPO and their vital work in Israel and across the globe.

 

AFIPO donors come from 39 states across the country and provide millions of dollars of funding to the Israel Philharmonic each year. When you give to AFIPO, you join an American community of thought leaders and a long philanthropic tradition for support for Israel.

LEADERSHIP

Honorary Co-Chairmen

Zubin Mehta

Itzhak Perlman

Lahav Shani

Pinchas Zukerman

 

President

James C. Ackerman *

 

Chair of the Executive Committee

Tricia Pantzer *

 

Vice Presidents

Jane Stern Lebell *

Claudio Pincus *

Eta Somekh *

Richard S. Ziman *

 

Secretary

Stacey Bronfman *

Directors

Emanuel Ax

Yefim Bronfman

Helgard Field-Lion *

Irwin S. Field *

Sharon Gabriel

Myron S. Glucksman *

Stephen H. Gordon

Benjamin Hildner

David A. Hirsch *

Chaim Katzman

Heidi Learner *

Polly Levine

Theodore N. Mirvis

Hadar Shemtov

Abraham D. Sofaer

Lynn Syms *

Abigail Tananbaum

Noemi Brief Zafrany

Directors Emeriti

Stewart Colton

Sara Fabrikant

Joan W. Harris

Toby Perlman

Judith B. Resnick

Pamela Sandler

Lauren Veronis

Margo Winkler

Marilyn Ziering

Presidents Emeriti

Fredric R. Mann (1980-1987)

Norman Bernstein (1987-1988)

Albert Schussler (1988-1995)

Herman S. Sandler (1995-2001)

Lynn Syms (2002-2006)

Elaine Wolfensohn (2006-2010)

David A. Hirsch (2010-2019)

Helgard Field-Lion and Irwin S. Field (2019-2021)

* Denotes Executive Committee

DONORS

The American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is delighted to recognize and thank our sustaining donors. The following list includes those who have contributed $5,000 or more to the annual fund and special events from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.

Rita and Charles R. Bronfman

Helgard Field-Lion and Irwin S. Field

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation

The Diane & Guilford Glazer Foundation

Joan A. Payden

Samueli Foundation

Lynn Syms

Sy Syms Foundation

Daniel Abrutyn

Donna and William R. Acquavella

Adrienne and Peter Biberstein

Stacey Bronfman

The Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund

Sara and Charles Fabrikant

Lora Fremont

Janna and Semyon Friedman

Sharon and Richard Gabriel

Madaline and Stephen H. Gordon

Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder

Polly and Jonathan Levine

Lugano Diamonds

Ruth and Theodore N. Mirvis

Tricia and Jason Pantzer

Penny and Claudio Pincus

Susana and Henry Samueli

Jane Stern Lebell

LAW Foundation

Wolfensohn Family Foundation

Rivka Saker and Uzi Zucker

Roni and James C. Ackerman

Apple Bank for Savings

Rebecka and Arie Belldegrun

Joan and Edward Cohen

Suzanne and Jacob Doft

Janice Feldman

John Flemming and Mark Powell

Amanda Gimble and Myron S. Glucksman

Mindy and Jonathan Gray

Rochelle and David A. Hirsch

Natalie Katz

Koret Foundation

Lenna N. Perlman

Varda Rabin

Jeanette and Eli Reinhard

Judith Resnick

Suki Sandler

Mao and Robert J. Shillman

Lydia Shorenstein

Vicki and Ronald Simms

The Paul E. Singer Foundation

Eta and Sass Somekh

Mina J. Tulchinsky

Wilf Family Foundations

Marilyn Ziering

May and Richard S. Ziman

Martha and Barry Berkett

Jill and Jay Bernstein

Brigitte and George Brief

Norman Chanes

Felice and Richard Cutler

Irving Feintech Family Foundation

Estate of Manfried Glucksmann

Michael L. Gordon

Ellen and Kamran Hakim

Marla and Ricardo Lewitus

Anita Lorber

Nash Family Foundation

Pamela and Edward Pantzer

Marcie and Jordan Pantzer

Estate of Rita Pollet

Moise Y. Safra Foundation

Lewis Brunswick & Rebecca Matoff Foundation

Hadar Shemtov

Alice and Thomas Tisch

Sheryl and David Wiener

Diane and Howard Zack

Ruth/Allen Ziegler Foundation

Tanya Zuckerbrot and Anthony Westreich

Arnon Adar

Miriam Adelson

Paul Amir

Ida and Harvey Axelrod

Judith Bergman

Roberta and Stanley M. Bogen

Diana Newman and Isaac Corré

Toby Crystal

Estelle Deutsch Abraham

The Sigmund & Sophie Englander Foundation

Irving Feintech Family Foundation

Jan and Ronald Field

Sandra Krause and William Fitzgerald

Barbara Fremont

Karen and Henry Glanternik

Britt and Eliyahou Harari

Ada and James Horwich

Infinity Bank

Howard Jelinek

Linda and Michael Jesselson

Batya Kahane

Jeanne & Richard Kaskey Foundation

Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer

Ginger and Laurence Leeds

Susan and Moses Libitzky

Tamar and Milton S. Maltz

Carol and Melvin Newman

Carmela and Eli Pasternak

Susan and Mel Plutsky

Janet and David Polak

Lisa S. Pritzker

Marianna and Edward Rabinovitch

The Jack and Pearl Resnick Foundation

Fiona and Eric Rudin

Joan and Jack Saltz

Beatrice Santo Domingo

Joan Seidel

Susan and Benjamin Shapell

Celeste Signorino

Deidre and Douglas H. Smith

Judy and Robert N. Snyder

The Gunther & Blossom Sprecher Legacy Trust

Judith Taubman

Danielle and Drew Anderman

Susann and Byron Annis

Anonymous

Jan Aronson

Natalie and Brett Barth

Beverly Bavly

Catherine G. Benkaim and Barbara Timmer

Stacey and Michael Bennett

Ann Bialkin

Barbara H. Block

Irma and Benjamin Breslauer

The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Foundation

Junyao and Matthew Brumberg

Betsy and Steven C. Bush

Estate of James L. Buttenwieser

Sue and Giampiero Capelli

Patricia D. Cayne

Nancy and Irving Chase

Gerald L. Cohen

Rita and Fred Distenfeld

Caryl Englander

Amy and Morton Friedkin

Jean and Jerome Friedman

Angela Friedman

Robert Galpern

Lori and Bruce Gendelman

Arlene and Morris Goldfarb

Suzanne and Lawrence Goldstein

Roz and Abner Goldstine

Lisa Kohl and Ricardo Hornos

Suzay and Michael Isaacson

Carole and Ted Krumland

Ellie and Mark Lainer

Lynn Harris and Matti Leshem

Dominique Levy

Sharon and John L. Loeb

Susan and Morris Mark

Christy and Louis Marlin

Ana and Richard Meier

Wendy and Adam Modlin

Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries

Barbara and Bruce I. Nadler

Ilene and James Nathan

Susan Neisloss and Tamara Kline

Nancy and Morris W. Offit

Barbara and John Osterweis

Perkins Coie Foundation

Susan Shulman and Ronnie Pertnoy

The Eve Propp Family Fund

Riva Ariella Ritvo-Slifka

Lois Rosen

Wendy and Kenneth Ruby

The Schuman Family Foundation

Gail and Robert Sebring

Seed the Dream Foundation

Joel Simon

Diane Stovall

Lauren Veronis

CONTACT US

NATIONAL OFFICE

122 East 42nd Street
Suite 4507
New York, NY 10168

 

Telephone: 212.697.2949

Fax: 212.697.2943

Email: [email protected]

Catherine L. Lou
Interim CEO & Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]

Emily Kirk Weddle
Chief Digital Content & Communications Officer
[email protected]

Beth Ann Barlow
Director of Administrative & Development Support
[email protected]

Suzanne K. Ponsot
National Philanthropy Director
[email protected]

 

Kimberley Freund
Executive Director, Western Region
[email protected]

 

Elana Safar
Executive Director, Eastern Region
[email protected]

Catherine L. Lou
Interim CEO & Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]

Emily Kirk Weddle
Chief Digital Content & Communications Officer
[email protected]

Beth Ann Barlow
Director of Administrative & Development Support
[email protected]

Suzanne K. Ponsot
National Philanthropy Director
[email protected]

 

Kimberley Freund
Executive Director, Western Region
[email protected]

 

Elana Safar
Executive Director, Eastern Region
[email protected]

PRESS CONTACT:

Emily Kirk Weddle, Chief Digital Content & Communications Officer

[email protected]

EMPLOYMENT

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