Here's What You Need to Know About Richard Menschel's NYC Philanthropy
/Editor's note: This article was revised and updated on 6/7/2021.
In the past, I've written about the New York City philanthropy of Robert Menschel. Well, as it turns out, his brother, Richard Menschel has also been engaged in philanthropy for years, with a preference for New York City as well. In fact, the Menschel brothers have been involved with at least five philanthropies over the years, all of which have focused in on the Big Apple.
Richard Menschel went to Bronx High School of Science, Syracuse University and then Harvard Business School. After serving in the Air Force, he got a job at Goldman Sachs, where he currently serves as a senior director.
Menschel and his wife Ronay move some of their philanthropy through Charina Foundation, which gives away around $1 million annually. In addition, Menschel also moves quite a bit of philanthropy through the Charina Endowment Fund, which was created from a bequest from a longtime wall streeter, Horace W. Goldsmith. The Charina Endowment Fund posted around $308 million in assets recently and gave away over $11 million that year. Those figures are down a bit from prior years, by the way.
While neither the Charina Foundation nor the Charina Endowment Fund has much of a web presence, or a clear way to get in touch, here are a few must knows about Menschel's New York philanthropy:
1. Menschel Has Supported Education in New York
While some of Menschel's efforts in this area involve his alma maters, the couple has recently supported Rockefeller University and New York Law School. On the K-12 front, Menschel has supported education reform. In 2002, then Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Menschel to the city's Panel for Education Policy. Recent money has supported outfits such as Uncommon Schools, Partnership for Inner City Education, KIPP NYC, and the After-School Corporation.
2. Sums Have Also Gone to Health
Menschel is a chairman emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Millions have streamed to that outfit from the Charina Endowment Fund. Money has also gone to the New York Presbyterian Fund, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, among others.
3. Like His Brother, Menschel is Also Into Arts and Culture
Menschel has supported outfits such as Museum of Modern Art, Jewish Museum, Neue Galerie New York, Manhattan Theatre Club, and a number of other arts and culture outfits in New York City and beyond. Menschel is also vice president and trustee of Morgan Library and Museum, where he's established a curatorial chair in photography. Like Robert Menschel, Richard Menschel also has a strong interest in photography.
4. Assorted Sums Have Gone Elsewhere
Menschel has also supported human services outfits in New York. Money has gone to Citymeals-on-Wheels, Harlem Children's Zone, and Phipps Houses, "a not-for-profit developer, owner, and manager of affordable housing in New York City." Menschel's wife Ronay serves as chair of the board of trustees of Phipps Houses. Money has also gone towards environmental conservation and towards criminal justice issues.
Related:
