Helen Rubinstein Foundation To Close

Over its nearly 60 year history, the Foundation has distributed close to $130 million, primarily to education and community-based organizations in New York City.

Rubinstein started the Foundation in affirmation of a principle she often expressed: “My fortune comes from women and should benefit them and their children, to better their quality of life.” Convinced that education was vital to career development, she made scholarship grants to encourage young women to undertake higher education and to pursue nontraditional careers.

The Foundation maintained its founder’s vision over many years, focusing on education and career initiatives, arts education, and health and direct services for low-income communities. The majority of the Foundation’s giving went to education programs across the age spectrum – from helping children to achieve in school, to preparing young people for college and the world of work, to enabling adults to reach their full potential through job training, internship, scholarship, and fellowship opportunities.

“We are proud to have supported many organizations working in education,
arts-in-education, community services, and health,” said Diane Moss, who as president, has guided the Foundation since 1968. “Some of the most satisfying initiatives and programs we have been involved in have been job training for the unemployed and career exposure for young people, understanding that linking people to jobs and career opportunities is the clearest path out of poverty. With the Foundation closing, we have made several final and significant grants that reflect our history and values over many decades.”

A listing of the Foundation’s grants is available on the foundation’s website: http://www.helenarubinsteinfdn.org