Anthony and Beatrice Welters: Donor Grants
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: UnitedHealth Group
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Arts & Culture, Health
OVERVIEW: Anthony and Beatrice Welters established the AnBryce Foundation in 1995 as a way to provide opportunities to underprivileged children. They also conduct philanthropy through the Vincent Wilkinson Foundation, which gave away around $270,000 in a recent year.
BACKGROUND: Born and raised in New York City, Anthony Welters graduated with a B.A. in economics from Manhattanville College and a J.D. from New York University School of Law. In 1989, he launched AmeriChoice, a $1 billion health care company he sold to UnitedHealth Group (UHG). He spent two decades at UHG, where he retired as senior adviser to the office of the CEO. He is currently executive chairman of the BlackIvy Group, which builds and grows commercial enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Beatrice Welters graduated with her B.A. from Manhattanville College and her M.A. from John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City of New York. She is a former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Anthony and Beatrice Welters founded the AnBryce Foundation to provide opportunities to underprivileged children. Beatrice also established Camp Dogwood Summer Academy, located in Wolftown, Virginia about two hours from Washington D.C. which offers distinct summer experiences for young people ages 7-18. The foundation also runs the AnBryce Scholars Program at NYU Law School, which “seeks to identify and cultivate future leaders who are committed to giving back to society and making a positive impact on the world.” The AnBryce Scholars Initiative at Notre Dame, meanwhile, “brings first-generation, under-resourced students into a family of scholars and mentors.” The couple’s sons, Bryant and Andrew, are alumni of the school. The AnBryce Foundation also works in areas of student enrichment, including around STEM education, as well as college access, and career preparation.
The Vincent Wilkinson Foundation’s grantmaking touches youth and educational causes as well. Grantees have included Teach for America and Washington Jesuit Academy. Welters has served on the board of the Horatio Alger Association, which received a large six-figure grant from the foundation recently.Welters is a Horatio Alger Award recipient. He is a trustee emeritus of Morehouse School of Medicine, which he’s supported in the past, and NYU Law.
ARTS & CULTURE: The Welters couple are founding donors of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to which they’ve given at least $2 million. Welters is a trustee emeritus of John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Other grantees have included Aspen Music Festival & School, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, American Film Institute, Apsen Institute, and Aspen Music Festival and School.
HEALTH: In 2015, the Vincent Wilkinson Foundation made a gift to NYU Langone to build a model program to improve outcomes for medically underserved women by reducing barriers to quality care and advancing pioneering treatments for breast cancer. Welters is a trustee of NYU Langone Medical Center. Other grantees have included Inova Health Foundation.
OTHER: The couple recently supported Equal Justice Initiative via their Vincent Wilkinson Foundation. Beatrice is on the board of the Brookings Institution, which the couple has supported. She is also on the board of anti-poverty organization the Robin Hood Foundation.
LOOKING FORWARD: The Willes have ties to several different regions. Expect grantmaking to track with established interest areas for now.
CONTACT:
The Vincent Wilkinson Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the couple but below is an address:
Vincent Wilkinson Foundation
1650 Tysons Blvd., Ste. 900
McLean, VA 22102
