Lawrence and Stephanie Flinn
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: United Video Cablevision, United Video Satellite Group
FUNDING AREAS: Environment & Animals, Education & Youth, Health & Human Services, Arts & Culture
OVERVIEW: Lawrence Flinn Jr. and his wife Stephanie conduct their philanthropy through the Stephanie and Lawrence Flinn Jr. Charitable Trust, which made a little over $1.3 million in grants in a recent year. The family supports a range of causes including the environment, education, and health. They do not seem big on accumulating board memberships. Southeastern Florida, north of Palm Beach, is a region of giving.
BACKGROUND: Lawrence Flinn Jr. graduated with a B.A. from Yale University in 1957 and an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1960. He worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and then joined the Bogdan Company. Flinn bought Vestal Video, a small operation, and moved to the Binghamton area to manage the business, which was later renamed United Video Cablevision, Inc. In 1975, Flinn purchased United Video, Inc. (UVI), which used towers and microwave technology to transmit television signals from WGN-TV Chicago and other big-city stations to markets including Dallas and Houston, and to smaller underserved cable television markets in the central United States. UVI changed its name to United Video Satellite Group (UVSG). UVSG was behind the Prevue Channel, now called the TV Guide Channel. Flinn retired in 1998.
ISSUES:
ENVIRONMENT & ANIMALS: The Flinns have supported African Wildlife Foundation, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Bonefish & Tarpon Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, Rainforest Action Network, Tall Timbers Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Network, and Sierra Club Foundation. The couple have been supporting some of these organizations for years.
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Flinn is on the board of Columbia Business School, which he supports. He has supported his other alma mater, Yale University, as well. Other grantees include The Hotchkiss School, Boys & Girls Club of Martin County (Flinn co-chairs the Great Futures Campaign), and Convent of the Sacred Heart.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: The family is strongly involved with the Jupiter Medical Center Foundation; the medical center's main lobby is named after the couple. The Flinns have supported various chapters of Planned Parenthood, as well as Alzheimer’s Association, Hospital for Special Surgery, Fountain House, and Lahey Hospital & Medical Center.
ARTS & CULTURE: Stephanie Flinn is an artist whose work has been exhibited at Lighthouse ArtCenter. Grantees include Bravo Vail Valley Music Festival and Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
OTHER: They support Christ Memorial Chapel in Florida.
LOOKING FORWARD: The Flinns have not said much publicly about their philanthropy, as far as we can tell, but expect them to continue to support their select interest areas. The couple's three children may play a larger role in grantmaking down the line.
CONTACT:
Stephanie and Lawrence Flinn Jr. Charitable Trust
55 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Ste C-297
Rye, NY 10580
