Anita Zucker
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: InterTech Group
FUNDING AREAS: Jewish Causes, Education, Community
OVERVIEW: Anita Zucker and family move philanthropy through the Jerry and Anita Zucker Family Foundation, which gave away around $636,000 in a recent year.
BACKGROUND: Anita G. Zucker graduated with a B.A. in education from the University of Florida and a master’s of education from the University of North Florida. She was an elementary school teacher and married the late Jerry Zucker, an inventor who launched InterTech Group, a private, family-owned chemicals manufacturer. Anita Zucker serves as CEO of the company.
ISSUES:
JEWISH CAUSES: Zucker is the daughter of a holocaust survivor, and one of the focuses in her philanthropy is supporting the Jewish community. She served on the board of the Addlestone Hebrew Academy, and has an honorary degree from Yeshiva University. She made a $1 million donation to the Center for Advancing Holocaust Survivor Care, a Jewish Federations of North America initiative to support aging survivors across the U.S. Other grantees have included Jewish Community Center of Charleston, Columbia Jewish Federation, Selden K. Smith Foundation for Holocaust Education, and Harold Grinspoon Foundation, one of whose goals is to support Jewish and community life.
EDUCATION: Zucker was an elementary school teacher for around a decade and also targets these causes in her giving. The family particularly focuses in on higher education. She gave $6 million to Trident Technical College’s aerospace training center in 2016, and $5 million to the University of South Carolina to create the Zucker Institute for Aerospace Innovation at the McNair Center. Zucker also gave a $5 million pledge to Clemson University, home to the Zucker Family Graduate Education Center. She’s a trustee of her alma mater University of Florida, home to the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies. Zucker also donated $4 million to The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina for education programs. Son Jonathan graduated from the school.
Other grantees have included College of Charleston Foundation, and Pattison’s Academy, “an education and rehabilitation academy providing comprehensive, year-round programs to support children with disabilities and their families.”
COMMUNITY: The Zucker family also support other institutions in their local community like City of North Charleston Recreation Department, Charleston Rotary Fund, and the Post and Courier Foundation. The Post and Courier is the main daily newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Zucker family’s giving in education and Jewish causes to continue in particular. Down the line, Zucker’s three kids should be watched carefully as well. Her oldest son, Jonathan, president at The InterTech Group, is also on the board of the foundation.
CONTACT:
The foundation accepts contact at the address below
Board of Directors
4838 Jenkins Ave.
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 744-5174
