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.
$100,000 plus
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
$50,000 - $99,999
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
$25,000 - $49,999
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
$15,000 - $24,999
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
$10,000 - $14,999
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
$5,000 - $9,999
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
EMPLOYMENT
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