Lawrence C. Leeds

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Buckingham Capital Management

FUNDING AREAS: Education, NYC Community, Arts & Culture, Human Services, Health, Jewish Causes

OVERVIEW: Larry Leeds and family conduct their philanthropy through the Leeds Family Foundation, which gave away around $1.5 million in 2017, according to available tax filings. Leeds recently helped create the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in honor of their late son Cary, a professional tennis player. He also funded an endowed coaching position at Yale to honor him. This funder's philanthropy has a New York City focus, with education, arts and culture, health, and other areas receiving funds. 

BACKGROUND: Lawrence C. Leeds Jr., received his B.A. from Yale in 1950, and his MBA from Wharton. Leeds served as chairman and CEO of the Manhattan Shirt Company, which was founded by his great-grandfather in the 1800s. He entered the investment industry in 1988 as an analyst for The Buckingham Research Group and currently serves as chairman of Buckingham Capital Management. 

ISSUES:

EDUCATION: Leeds is a trustee of Prep For Prep, whose aim is to develop "leaders of color through access to superior education and life-changing opportunities." He also sits on the board of the FIT Foundation, which supports the Fashion Institute of Technology. Leeds has support both Prep for Prep and FIT Foundation. He has also steadily supported his alma mater Yale. Leeds and family bankrolled an endowed tennis coaching position in their late son Cary's honor. Other grantees have included NYU, St. Peter’s School, and the Teak Fellowship

NYC COMMUNITY: The Leeds family helped create the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning at the New York Junior Tennis & Learning Center in the South Bronx in honor of their late son. Cary was a star on Yale’s varsity tennis team in the 1970s, and went on to become a world-ranked player and a Wimbledon mixed doubles semifinalist. Cary also coached gifted youth. The Leeds family have also supported places like Figure Skating in Harlem, New York Landmarks Conservancy, and City Parks Foundation

ARTS & CULTURE: Grantees have included Carnegie Hall Society, Film Society of Lincoln Center , Lincoln Center Theatre, Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Met, National Dance Institute, MoMA, and New York Philharmonic.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Leeds sits on the board of Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, which he has steadily supported. Other grantees include Autism Speaks, Cancer Research Institute, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and NYU Langone Medical Center, where Leeds sits on the board. The family have also funded outfits like ACE for The Homeless, Henry Street Settlement, and Phoenix House, a nonprofit drug & alcohol rehabilitation organization.

JEWISH CAUSES: Leeds has supported outfits such as American Friends of Israel Museum, American Friends of Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, American Jewish Committee, Birthright Israel Foundation, and World Jewish Congress.

OTHER: It is worth mentioning that Leeds sits on the board of the Hudson Institute, a "domestic and foreign policy tank." He has supported the institute, as well as George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom, and Competitive Enterprise Institute.

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Leeds family's philanthropy to stay laser-focused on their established interest areas.

CONTACT:

The Leeds Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue to get in touch with the couple but below is an address:

Leeds Family Foundation
120 W. 45th St., 7th Fl.
New York City, NY 10036

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