There are certain letters that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading them. The recent note that Margie and I received from Dr. Robert Harrington, Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, was one of those letters.
While it expressed appreciation for our family’s support of memory disorders research, what resonated with me most wasn’t the recognition—it was the reminder that meaningful philanthropy is ultimately about people. It’s about giving researchers the tools they need to make discoveries that improve lives, support families, and create hope where uncertainty once existed.
Those are investments that never lose their value.
Throughout my life, whether in business or philanthropy, I’ve always believed that the greatest opportunities come from investing in people with vision. Exceptional leaders, physicians, scientists, and educators have the ability to create change that extends far beyond anything one individual could accomplish alone.
That is exactly what we see at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Learning that our support will help Dr. Sonja Blum continue building the Cognitive Neurology Research Data Repository reinforces why this mission is so important. Research today is driven by information, collaboration, and innovation. Creating a centralized resource that advances personalized treatments for patients—particularly women at risk for dementia—is an investment that will continue producing value for years to come.
Medical breakthroughs rarely happen overnight. They are built through thousands of hours of research, careful analysis, collaboration, and persistence. Every discovery creates the possibility for another, and every advancement brings families one step closer to better treatments and, ultimately, prevention.
Knowing that our family’s contribution can help support that process is both humbling and inspiring.
One part of Dr. Harrington’s letter especially stood out to me. He thanked us not only for our financial support but also for helping inspire others to join the mission. That message carries tremendous meaning because philanthropy has always been about more than giving—it is about encouraging a culture of generosity.
If one family’s commitment motivates another family, business leader, or organization to invest in medical research, then the impact grows exponentially.
That’s how real change happens.
Margie and I have been fortunate throughout our lives, and we’ve always believed that success carries responsibility. We have been blessed with opportunities, and we believe those opportunities should create opportunities for others. Supporting world-class institutions like Weill Cornell Medicine allows us to contribute to something much larger than ourselves.
We also recognize that research isn’t simply about science—it is about families.
Behind every medical breakthrough is someone waiting for answers. A husband caring for his wife. A daughter watching her mother struggle with memory loss. A family hoping for an earlier diagnosis or a more effective treatment. Those are the people every researcher is ultimately working to help.
When viewed through that lens, philanthropy becomes deeply personal.
Our family’s connection to Weill Cornell Medicine has strengthened over the years through both personal relationships and shared values. We’ve witnessed firsthand the institution’s commitment to patient care, education, and scientific excellence, which gives us tremendous confidence that every investment is being directed toward meaningful progress.
Receiving this letter was certainly an honor, but it also served as a reminder that the work is only beginning.
The future of medicine will be shaped by bold ideas, innovative research, and people willing to invest in long-term solutions. We are proud to play a small role in supporting that future.
If our contribution helps researchers make even one discovery that changes a patient’s life, then it will have been one of the most meaningful investments we have ever made.
Because at the end of the day, the greatest return on investment isn’t measured in dollars.
It’s measured in lives improved, families strengthened, and hope restored.
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