Recently, Weill Cornell Medicine published a feature highlighting our family’s commitment to advancing Alzheimer’s and women’s brain health research through philanthropy.
There are moments in life when recognition arrives that causes you to pause—not because you were seeking acknowledgment, but because it reminds you why you chose to support something much larger than yourself. Receiving this beautiful feature from Weill Cornell Medicine was one of those moments.
As I read through the article highlighting Margie and me, I found myself reflecting less on our family’s contribution and more on the incredible people who dedicate their lives to advancing medicine. The physicians, researchers, scientists, educators, and healthcare professionals at Weill Cornell Medicine are doing work that has the potential to change the future for millions of families. To know that our family can play even a small role in supporting that mission is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
Philanthropy has never been about having our names appear in print. It has always been about creating opportunities that outlive us.
Throughout my career, I’ve learned that meaningful progress rarely happens overnight. Whether in business, education, healthcare, or scientific research, the greatest achievements are built over years through vision, discipline, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. That philosophy has guided many of the decisions Margie and I have made over the years, especially when it comes to charitable giving.
When we first became involved with Weill Cornell Medicine, we were immediately impressed by the institution’s culture. We met physicians who weren’t simply practicing medicine—they were redefining it. We met researchers asking questions that others hadn’t yet considered. We saw an organization that understood innovation doesn’t happen by accident; it happens when talented people are given the resources to pursue bold ideas.
That left a lasting impression on us.
Our latest gift supporting the development of the Cognitive Neurology Research Data Repository represents something we believe is critically important. Alzheimer’s disease continues to impact millions of families around the world, and the statistics regarding women are impossible to ignore. Knowing that nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women highlights the urgent need for research specifically focused on women’s brain health.
If advancing this work today helps physicians diagnose disease earlier, develop more personalized treatments, or improve outcomes for future generations, then it is an investment worth making.
One of the aspects that excites me most is that this repository is not simply funding a single research project. It is helping create infrastructure that future researchers will build upon for many years. Great institutions think beyond immediate results. They build foundations that allow discoveries to continue long after today’s projects are complete.
That kind of long-term thinking resonates with me.
I have always believed that the most valuable investments are those that continue creating value long after the original contribution has been made. Research platforms, educational programs, and scientific collaboration have a multiplying effect. One discovery leads to another. One researcher inspires another. One innovation opens doors that were previously unimaginable.
This is how meaningful progress happens.
What makes our relationship with Weill Cornell Medicine even more special is that it is personal. Our daughter, Dr. Sarah Weingarten, completed her fellowship there, and our future son-in-law, Dr. Sam Kleeman, is beginning his oncology residency within the institution. Watching them dedicate their lives to caring for others has only strengthened our appreciation for the extraordinary people who make Weill Cornell Medicine one of the world’s leading academic medical centers.
As parents, there is enormous pride in watching your children pursue careers that improve the lives of others. As supporters of the institution, there is equal pride in knowing that these young physicians are surrounded by mentors and colleagues committed to excellence in patient care, research, and education.
This latest recognition also reminded me that philanthropy is never an individual effort.
Behind every gift are countless people whose work makes that investment meaningful. Researchers who spend years testing hypotheses. Clinicians who care for patients every day. Administrators who build programs. Donors who quietly support important initiatives without expecting recognition. Families who place their trust in physicians during life’s most difficult moments.
Medical progress is always a team effort.
I was particularly touched by the article’s emphasis on transforming scientific discovery into real-world impact for patients. That sentence captures exactly why Margie and I choose to support these initiatives. Scientific breakthroughs are exciting, but what truly matters is how those discoveries improve someone’s life. If research leads to earlier diagnosis, more effective treatments, or even one additional family being spared the pain of Alzheimer’s disease, then every dollar invested becomes invaluable.
Recognition like this also carries responsibility.
It reminds us that those who have been fortunate enough to achieve success also have the opportunity—and I believe the obligation—to help others succeed. Philanthropy is not simply about generosity. It is about stewardship. It is about taking resources, experiences, and opportunities we’ve been blessed with and directing them toward causes capable of creating lasting change.
Margie and I have been fortunate throughout our lives, and we believe strongly that success becomes far more meaningful when it can be shared.
Reading this feature filled me with gratitude—not only for the recognition itself, but for the opportunity to partner with an institution whose mission aligns so closely with our values. Innovation. Compassion. Excellence. Education. Research. Hope.
Those principles matter.
As medical science continues advancing at an incredible pace, I have tremendous optimism about what the future holds. The work being done today in neuroscience, genetics, biomarkers, artificial intelligence, and precision medicine will shape healthcare for generations to come. Supporting those efforts today is one small way of investing in a healthier tomorrow.
I want to thank everyone at Weill Cornell Medicine for the extraordinary work they do every day. Their commitment to improving lives inspires all of us who have the privilege of supporting their mission.
If this recognition encourages even one additional family, business leader, or philanthropist to invest in medical research, education, or patient care, then its impact extends far beyond our own story.
That, to me, is what meaningful philanthropy is all about.
And for that, Margie and I are profoundly grateful.
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