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 *
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
Hadar Shemtov
Abraham D. Sofaer
Lynn Syms *
Abigail Tananbaum
Mina Tulchinsky
Noemi Brief Zafrany
Directors Emeriti
Stewart Colton
Sara Fabrikant
Helgard Field-Lion
Joan W. Harris
Toby Perlman
Judith B. Resnick
Pamela Sandler
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, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
$100,000 plus
Judith and Stewart Colton
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
Joan A. Payden
Samueli Foundation
Lynn Syms
Wolfensohn Family Foundation
$50,000 - $99,999
Daniel Abrutyn
Adrienne and Peter Biberstein
Sara and Charles Fabrikant
Janice Feldman
Helgard Field Lion and Irwin Field
Janna and Semyon Friedman
Madaline and Stephen H. Gordon
Lugano Diamonds
Penny and Claudio Pincus
Vicki and Ronald Simms
Estate of Jeffrey M. Webber
$25,000 - $49,999
Roni and James C. Ackerman
Rebecka and Arie Belldegrun
Irma and Norman Braman
Rita and Charles R. Bronfman
Stacey Bronfman
John D. Flemming and Mark Powell
Caryn Schacht and David Fox
Sharon and Richard Gabriel
Amanda Gimble and Myron Glucksman
Koret Foundation
Jo Carole and Ronald Lauder
Ruth and Theodore N. Mirvis
Nash Family Foundation
Tricia and Jason Pantzer
The Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation
Mao and Robert J. Shillman
Lydia Shorenstein
The Paul E. Singer Foundation
Eta and Sass Somekh
Jane Stern Lebell
Mina J. Tulchinsky
Wilf Family Foundations
Ziering Family Foundaiton
May and Richard S. Ziman
Rivka Saker and Uzi Zucker
$15,000 - $24,999
Apple Bank for Savings
Martha and Barry Berkett
Brigitte and George Brief
Norman Chanes
Joan and Edward Cohen
The Diane & Guilford Glazer Foundation
Michael L. Gordon
Rochelle and David A. Hirsch
Ada and James Horwich
Natalie Katz
Marsha and Henry Laufer
Susan and Morris Mark
Pamela and Edward Pantzer
Lenna N. Perlman
Moise Y. Safra Foundation
Safra National Bank of New York
Suki Sandler
Sheryl and David Wiener
Ruth/Allen Ziegler Foundation
Tanya Zuckerbrot and Anthony Westreich
$10,000 - $14,999
Herta Amir
Ida and Harvey Axelrod
Judith Bergman
Sue and Giampiero Capelli
Toby Crystal
Kathi and Gary Cypres
Evelyn & Norman Feintech Family Foundation
Sandra Krause and William B. Fitzgerald
Marjorie and Stephen B. Fiverson
Barbara Fremont
Karen and Henry Glanternik
Britt and Eliyahou Harari
Fleur and Leonard M. Harlan
Infinity Bank
Howard Jelinek
Linda and Michael Jesselson
Batya Kahane and Daniel Jusidiman
Jeanne & Richard Kaskey Foundation
Ginger and Laurence C. Leeds
Polly and Jonathan Levine
Marla and Ricardo Lewitus
Susan and Moses Libitzky
Carol and Melvin Newman
Nancy Oelbaum
John Paulson
Janet and David Polak
Lisa S. Pritzker
The Jack and Pearl Resnick Foundation
Beatrice Santo Domingo
Joan Seidel
Kathy and Brad J. Shapiro
Celeste Signorino
Deidre and Douglas H. Smith
The Gunther & Blossom Sprecher Legacy Trust
Allison Leonard N. Stern
Anita Wornick
Diane and Howard Zack
$5,000 - $9,999
Adrienne Adar
Jan Aronson
Catherine G. Benkaim and Barbara Timmer
Jill and Jay Bernstein
Ann Bialkin
Marjorie and Steven Black
Penny and Harold Blumenstein
The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Foundation
Matthew and Junyao Brumberg
Estate of James L. Buttenwieser
Tobias Carrero
Patricia D. Cayne
Gerald L. Cohen
Estelle Deutsch Abraham
Caryl Englander
Irving Feintech Family Foundation
Jan and Ronald Field
FirstResidential Service
Judy and Robert T. Flesh
Angela Friedman
Jean and Jerome Friedman
Robert Galpern
Suzanne and Lawrence I. Goldstein
Suzy and Michael Isaacson
Corie and Michael Koss
Carole and Ted Krumland
Alice and Nahum Lainer
Ellie and Mark Lainer
Lynn Harris and Matti Leshem
Ambassador and Mrs. John L. Loeb
Anita Lorber
Christy and Louis M. Marlin
Eileen and Philip J. Michaels
Ambassador Alfred H. Moses and Ms. Fern M. Schad
Joe and Hellen Darion Foundation
Ilene and James Nathan
Susan Neisloss and Tamara Kline
John S. Osterweis
Carmela and Eli Pasternak
Perkins Coie LLP
Susan Shulman and Ronnie Pertnoy
Susan and Mel Plutsky
The Eve Propp Family Fund
Varda Rabin
Riva Ariella Ritvo-Slifka
Wendy and Kenneth Ruby
Joan and Jack Saltz
Pamela and E. Randol Schoenberg
The Schuman Family Foundation
Gail and Robert Sebring
Allison and Joel Simon
Judy and Robert N. Snyder
Diane Stovall
Warren Henry Automobiles
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]
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
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]
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.
