William Rosenwald
Encyclopedia
William Rosenwald was an American
business executive whose American Securities Corporation invested in other business including AMETEK
and Western Union International. He was a philanthropist
who helped establish the nationwide United Jewish Appeal
in 1939 and made other charitable grants through the William Rosenwald Family Fund. His father was Julius Rosenwald
, the former chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Company
and a leading philanthropist whose Rosenwald Fund
built 5,000 schools for black children in the South a few decades after the Civil War.
William Rosenwald was born in Chicago
in 1903 to Julius Rosenwald and the former Augusta Nusbaum. He attended the MIT Sloan School of Management
, where he earned a bachelor of science
degree in 1924. Rosenwald also attended Harvard University
for a year as well as the London School of Economics
. He was employed by Sears, Roebuck starting in 1928, and was a director of the firm from 1934 to 1938.
He organized a family effort in the mid-1930s to provide assistance to relatives in Europe affected by the rise of Nazi Germany
. By 1948, over 300 individuals had been brought to the United States and provided with work and places to live. An additional 300 family members in Europe were also provided for. In a 1935 interview, Rosenwald stated that "There is the thought in my mind -- and that I would like to get across to the Jews of America -- that to the extent that the Jews as a whole help their suffering brethren, we will fortify the Jews of all countries against anti-Semitic onslaughts." He organized the National Refugee Service (later a part of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
) in 1939, to help resettle refugees.
In 1938, Rosenwald married Mary Kurtz, his second wife, with whom he had three daughters. Kurtz died in 1985.
In January 1939, Rosenwald's National Coordinating Committee Fund joined with Rabbi Jonah Wise
of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
, Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver
of the United Palestine Appeal, to form the United Jewish Appeal for Refugees and Overseas Needs. The founders emphasized that the funds needed to support Jews in Europe and Palestine would be triple to quadruple the amount raised in the previous year. While the organizations would raise funds together, the Joint Distribution Committee would assist Jews in Europe, the United Palestine Appeal would aid the Jewish community in Palestine, including refugees from Europe arriving there and the National Coordinating Committee Fund would assist refugees arriving in the United States. From 1942 to 1946, Rosenwald was one of the UJA's three national chairmen, leading the first campaign to raise more than $100 million, and led campaigns again from 1955 to 1957.
In 1974, Rosenwald oversaw the merger of the UJA with the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and was named as the first president of the combined organization.
Rosenwald served on the board of the Tuskegee Institute for 40 years and was a longtime board member of the New York Philharmonic
. He served on the executive committee of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for five decades and was an active leader of the American Jewish Committee
and the Council of Jewish Federations, among many other organizations.
Rosenwald died at age 93 on October 31, 1996 at his apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.. Rosenwald was survived by his three daughters and five grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
business executive whose American Securities Corporation invested in other business including AMETEK
AMETEK
AMETEK, Inc is a manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with headquarters in the United States and over 80 manufacturing sites worldwide....
and Western Union International. He was a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who helped establish the nationwide United Jewish Appeal
United Jewish Appeal
The United Jewish Appeal was a Jewish philanthropic umbrella organization that existed from its creation in 1949 until it was folded into the United Jewish Communities, which was formed from the 1999 merger of United Jewish Appeal , Council of Jewish Federations and United Israel Appeal, Inc.In...
in 1939 and made other charitable grants through the William Rosenwald Family Fund. His father was Julius Rosenwald
Julius Rosenwald
Julius Rosenwald was a U.S. clothier, manufacturer, business executive, and philanthropist. He is best known as a part-owner and leader of Sears, Roebuck and Company, and for the Rosenwald Fund which donated millions to support the education of African American children in the rural South, as well...
, the former chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
and a leading philanthropist whose Rosenwald Fund
Rosenwald Fund
The Rosenwald Fund was established in 1917 by Julius Rosenwald and his family for "the well-being of mankind."...
built 5,000 schools for black children in the South a few decades after the Civil War.
William Rosenwald was born in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1903 to Julius Rosenwald and the former Augusta Nusbaum. He attended the MIT Sloan School of Management
MIT Sloan School of Management
The MIT Sloan School of Management is the business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
, where he earned a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1924. Rosenwald also attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for a year as well as the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He was employed by Sears, Roebuck starting in 1928, and was a director of the firm from 1934 to 1938.
He organized a family effort in the mid-1930s to provide assistance to relatives in Europe affected by the rise of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. By 1948, over 300 individuals had been brought to the United States and provided with work and places to live. An additional 300 family members in Europe were also provided for. In a 1935 interview, Rosenwald stated that "There is the thought in my mind -- and that I would like to get across to the Jews of America -- that to the extent that the Jews as a whole help their suffering brethren, we will fortify the Jews of all countries against anti-Semitic onslaughts." He organized the National Refugee Service (later a part of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
HIAS
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society was founded in 1881. The constant flow of Jewish immigrants from Russia gave birth to the society. HIAS assists Jews and other groups of people whose lives and freedom are at risk, through rescue, relocation, family reunification, and resettlement. Since its inception...
) in 1939, to help resettle refugees.
In 1938, Rosenwald married Mary Kurtz, his second wife, with whom he had three daughters. Kurtz died in 1985.
In January 1939, Rosenwald's National Coordinating Committee Fund joined with Rabbi Jonah Wise
Jonah Wise
Rabbi Jonah Bondi Wise was an American Rabbi and leader of the Reform Judaism movement, who served for over thirty years as rabbi of the Central Synagogue in Manhattan and was a founder of the United Jewish Appeal, serving as its chairman from its creation in 1939 until 1958.-Biography:Jonah Wise...
of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a worldwide Jewish relief organization headquartered in New York. It was established in 1914 and is active in more than 70 countries....
, Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver
Abba Hillel Silver
Abba Hillel Silver was a U.S. Rabbi and Zionist leader. He was a key figure in the mobilization of American support for the founding of the State of Israel.-Biography:...
of the United Palestine Appeal, to form the United Jewish Appeal for Refugees and Overseas Needs. The founders emphasized that the funds needed to support Jews in Europe and Palestine would be triple to quadruple the amount raised in the previous year. While the organizations would raise funds together, the Joint Distribution Committee would assist Jews in Europe, the United Palestine Appeal would aid the Jewish community in Palestine, including refugees from Europe arriving there and the National Coordinating Committee Fund would assist refugees arriving in the United States. From 1942 to 1946, Rosenwald was one of the UJA's three national chairmen, leading the first campaign to raise more than $100 million, and led campaigns again from 1955 to 1957.
In 1974, Rosenwald oversaw the merger of the UJA with the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and was named as the first president of the combined organization.
Rosenwald served on the board of the Tuskegee Institute for 40 years and was a longtime board member of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
. He served on the executive committee of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for five decades and was an active leader of the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
and the Council of Jewish Federations, among many other organizations.
Rosenwald died at age 93 on October 31, 1996 at his apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.. Rosenwald was survived by his three daughters and five grandchildren.