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 *
Noemi Brief Zafrany *
Secretary
Stacey Bronfman *
Directors
Arnon Adar
Emanuel Ax
Yefim Bronfman
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
Joel Simon
Lynn Syms *
Mina Tulchinsky
Directors Emeriti
Stewart Colton
Sara Fabrikant
Helgard Field-Lion
Joan W. Harris
Toby Perlman
Judith B. Resnick
Pamela Sandler
Abraham Sofaer
Lauren Veronis
Margo Winkler
Marilyn Ziering
Richard S. Ziman
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, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
$100,000 plus
Anonymous
Judith and Stewart Colton
Sara and Charles Fabrikant
Janice Feldman
The Koum Family Foundation
Pfizer Inc.
Samueli Foundation
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
The Paul E. Singer Foundation
Sy Syms Foundation
Wolfensohn Family Foundation
$50,000 - $99,999
Rebecka and Arie Belldegrun
Adrienne and Peter Biberstein
Helgard and Irwin S. Field
Madaline and Stephen H. Gordon
Shelly and Chaim Katzman
Marsha and Henry Laufer
The LAW Foundation
Tricia and Jason Pantzer
Penny and Claudio Pincus
Estate of Raymond Strauss
$25,000 - $49,999
Roni and James C. Ackerman
Arnon Adar
Roberta and Stanley M. Bogen
Rita and Charles R. Bronfman
Stacey Bronfman and Alex Roepers
Beverly Cohen
Estelle Deutsch Abraham
Angela Friedman
Cheryl and Mark Friedman
Sharon and Richard Gabriel
Amanda Gimble and Myron Glucksman
Rochelle and David A. Hirsch
Koret Foundation
Ellie and Mark Lainer
Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder
Polly and Jonathan Levine
Ruth and Theodore N. Mirvis
Nash Family Foundation
Paulson Family Foundation
Jeanette and Eli Reinhard
Judith Resnick
Ari Rifkin
Karen Ross
Nechama and William Ross
Noam Ross
Renana and Jonathan Ross
Moise Y. Safra Foundation
Schuman Family Foundation
Kathy and Brad Shapiro
Hadar Shemtov
Lydia Shorenstein
Vicki and Ronald Simms
Allison and Joel Simon
Eta and Sass Somekh
Robbi and Bruce Toll
Mina Tulchinsky
Marilyn Ziering
Rivka Saker and Uzi Zucker
$15,000 - $24,999
Martha and Barry Berkett
Brigitte and George Brief
Norman Chanes
Suzanne Felson
July T. Galper
The Diane & Guilford Glazer Foundation
Michael L. Gordon
Kathy and Mitchell Jacobson
Natalie Katz
Ginger and Laurence C. Leeds
Mindy and Michael Lesser
Ruth and Ben Marandy
Evelyn Paltrow
Lenna N. Perlman
Susan Pernick
Suki Sandler
Allison and Leonard N. Stern
Jane Stern Lebell
Sheryl and David Wiener
Ruth/Allen Ziegler Foundation
$10,000 - $14,999
Herta Amir
Apple Bank for Savings
Arlene Blau
Linda and Maynard Brittan
Kathi and Gary Cypres
Susanne and Gregory Daniels
Wendy and Elliott Eisen
Evelyn & Norman Feintech Family Foundation
Irving Feintech Family Foundation
Marjorie and Stephen B. Fiverson
Janie and Donald Friend
Ann and Robert Fromer
Angie Gabel
Karen and Henry Glanternik
Richard Goldstein
Trudy and Bob Gottesman
Britt and Eliyahou Harari
Fleur and Leonard M. Harlan
Batya Kahane and Daniel Jusidiman
Jeanne & Richard Kaskey Foundation
Libitzky Family Foundation
Elaine and William A. Miller
Carol and Melvin Newman
Nancy and Morris W. Offit
Marcie and Jordan Pantzer
Carmela and Eli Pasternak
Perkins Coie LLP
Janet and David Polak
Lisa S. Pritzker
The Jack and Pearl Resnick Foundation
Beatrice Santo Domingo
Fiona and Michael Scharf
Gregg L. Schenker
Jean and Martin Shafiroff
Jeanne S. Siegel
Jane and Peter Strasser
Marlene Strauss
Roselyne C. Swig
Judith Taubman
Anita Wornick
Diane and Howard Zack
May and Richard S. Ziman
$5,000 - $9,999
Carol and Sheldon Appel
Jan Aronson
Ida and Harvey Axelrod
Catherine Benkaim and Barbara Timmer
Judith Bergman
Jill and Jay Bernstein
Ann Bialkin
Elizabeth Brodie
Junyao and Matthew Brumberg
Betsy and Steven C. Bush
Dana Johnson and Neal J. Castleman
Gerald L. Cohen
Nicoley Collins
Caryl Englander
Shira and Robert A. Feuerstein
Paula Zahn and Paul Fribourg
Amy and Morton Friedkin
Raquel and Jaime Gilinski
Saul Gilinski
Cathy Borzon and Marc J. Goldstein
Audrey and Martin D. Gruss
Madeline Gussman
Linda Kastan and Philip Herschenfeld
Barbara Hines
Infinity Bank
Kiara Kaminski
Emily and Jeffrey Kuvin
Bonnie Lautenberg
The Lewart Family Charitable Trust
Galina and Lev Leytes
Eileen and Philip J. Michaels
Craig Miller
The Joe & Helen Darion Foundation
Lillian Naveh
Rebekah and Adam Neumann
Jill Braufman and Daniel Nir
Barbro and Bernard Osher
John S. Osterweis
Susan Shulman and Ronnie Pertnoy
Susan and Mel Plutsky
Varda Rabin
Lynda and Stewart Resnick
Adele and Joel Sandberg
Judy and Robert Snyder
Carole A. Solomon
Bonnie and Steven Stern
Stephanie Rein and Edward Stern
Valli Benesch and Robert Tandler
Alice and Thomas Tisch
Penni and Stephen Weinberg
Diana Weiss Widman
Ray Ellen and Allan Yarkin
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
CEO & Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
Emily Kirk Weddle
Chief Digital Content & Communications Officer
[email protected]
Suzanne K. Ponsot
National Philanthropy Director
[email protected]
Beth Ann Barlow
Director of Administrative & Development Support
[email protected]
Catherine L. Lou
CEO & Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
Emily Kirk Weddle
Chief Digital Content & Communications Officer
[email protected]
Suzanne K. Ponsot
National Philanthropy Director
[email protected]
Beth Ann Barlow
Director of Administrative & Development Support
[email protected]
FOR PRESS INQUIRIES ABOUT THE 2025 CARNEGIE HALL PERFORMANCES:
Kirshbaum Associates
Shirley Kirshbaum, [email protected]
Beverly Greenfield, [email protected]
ALL OTHER PRESS INQUIRES:
Emily Kirk Weddle, Chief Digital Content & Communications Officer
EMPLOYMENT
There are no employment opportunities open currently. Check back here when new opportunities are posted.