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For 35 years, Reisenbach Philanthropies has been focused on one central mission: Find ways improve safety and the quality of life for New Yorkers.
The nonprofit organization, which will host its annual fundraiser on Nov. 19 at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, went through a big shift two years ago when it moved from making direct grants to other organizations to an incubator model. Now Reisenbach provides resources, talent and perhaps most important, encouragement to a range of nonprofits with specific targets in education, anti-hunger campaigns, digital literacy for the underprivileged and even an ambulance service to patrol Central Park.
Naomi Ryan, president of Reisenbach Philanthropiesm who has headed the organization since 2015, said the shift to the incubator model has allowed for deeper relationships with nonprofit entrepreneurs and advocacy organizations. At present, Reisenbach is nurturing include Technology for Families in Need, or TechFin, which works to give low-income families access to technology; Central Park Medical Unit, which aims to close the gap in ambulance service in Manhattan's 843-acre green space; Brooklyn Community Kitchen, which rescues food waste and provides meals in northern Brooklyn; and Safety Saints, which teaches everyday people how to perform CPR.
"We have basically completed our evolution that began about a decade ago, from a pass-through grant maker to an incubator of very high potential, emerging nonprofits throughout New York City," Ryan told Variety. "We do still give away money. We help raise and give away financial support to the organizations that we incubate, but we also provide them with a curriculum that essentially explains how to run a nonprofit, and it's tailored to their needs."
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The annual Reisenbach Philanthropies Benefit has been refashioned as a showcase for its incubator nonprofits and the talent and determination that those leaders demonstrate. This year's event will honor George Cheeks, who heads CBS and TV Media for Paramount Skydance, and Nigel Frankson, co-founder and chair of TechFin.
The John Reisenbach Foundation was formed in 1990 in the wake of a tragedy that coincided with a violent crime surge in New York. John Reisenbach was a 33-year-old TV advertising executive who was shot dead on a West Village streetcorner while talking on a pay telephone. His murder, which has never been solved, deeply rattled the close-knit TV advertising community. Reisenbach's friends and family rallied to create the foundation with the hopes of seeding a legacy of good works for New York to honor John's memory.
Amy Reisenbach, who is president of CBS Entertainment, was 11 when her brother was murdered. The loss took an unimaginable toll on her family, especially on her father. Sanford Reisenbach was a longtime top film marketing executive at Warner Bros. Pictures. He poured his energy into building the foundation as a means of channeling his immense grief.
The longevity of Reisenbach Philanthropies has been gratifying for those who have worked to maintain its strong support within New York's TV and advertising sectors. It has also helped Amy Reisenbach hold on to her emotional bond with the brother she lost to horrifying violence.
"The fact that the organization is actually growing - the word I go back to is 'stunned,' because I just can't get over that in this difficult environment, we're growing," Amy Reisenbach told Variety. "It still speaks to the mission 35 years ago, which was that my brother had such a deep love of New York. And I think everybody who loved him also loved New York."
The 35th anniversary event will be a reunion for Reisenbach and her extended family (Sanford Reisenbach died in 2015 at age 82). Other honorees this year include Omnicom CEO Ralph Pardo, Danya Herman, founder and president of Future Girl Entrepreneurs; and Joanna Stone, a partner at Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips. Actor Erika Henningsen (Netflix's "The Four Seasons") will host.
"Many of the people who got involved 35 years ago are still involved, which is amazing. And it all stems from everybody knows somebody who lives in New York or has family in New York, no matter where you're from, and so it's such a relatable organization," Reisenbach said. "I'm so proud of what Reisenbach has been able to do, especially since the pandemic. It's deeply personal to me."
The next level for Reisenbach Philanthropies will be expanding its focus beyond New York City to a handful of organizations in Los Angeles and that are focused on recovery from January's devastating fires Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Gotham will remain the primary focus of Reisenbach. But having the wherewithal to extend help to the West Coast is another source of pride for Amy Reisenbach and Ryan.
"Our fundamental focus is still in New York City, and it is still on safety and quality of life in the city," Ryan said. "There's a lot that falls under that umbrella, and we always try to be a funder that lets communities tell us what they need."