Grants

The Aspen Leadership Series: Conversations with Great Leaders in Memory of Preston R. Tisch and the Preston R. Tisch Award in Civic Leadership

In life, Preston Robert "Bob" Tisch had a profound impact on the lives of all New Yorkers, from the sick and vulnerable to school children and the elderly, and from supporting small business to improving the quality of life in the city. He did this through wise leadership, unparalleled philanthropy, and bringing together entrepreneurs, scholars, activists, and others interested in finding - and implementing - innovative approaches to issues of concern.

Now, three years after his death, his children, Academy Award-winning producer and community leader Steven Tisch, philanthropist and activist Laurie M. Tisch, and Loews Corp. Co-Chairman and New York civic leader Jonathan Tisch, have established a program at The Aspen Institute at Roosevelt House in New York with a 1.4 million dollar grant to continue this legacy. The grant is managed by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. The initiative includes:

• The Aspen Leadership Series: Conversations with Great Leaders in Memory of Preston Robert Tisch, which will feature dialogues with inspiring and innovative high-profile leaders who are improving their communities and society at-large. Held five times a year, these conversations will explore a variety of critical issues, including poverty, disease, justice, race, education, business ethics, politics, public service, and arts and culture.


• The Preston Robert Tisch Award in Civic Leadership: An annual monetary prize will be awarded to an individual who has had a significant positive impact on his or her community.  The recipient will donate the award to a charitable organization of his or her choosing.


• The inaugural session of the Aspen Leadership Series: Conversations with Great Leaders in Memory of Preston Robert Tisch featured a lively dialogue between City of Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker and Time Magazine Managing Editor Richard Stengel.


• The second session in the series is in December 2009; Conversations with Great Leaders in Memory of Preston Robert Tisch with Jamie Dimon and The Aspen Institute's Walter Issacson.


• Joan H. Tisch Community Health Prize, a $10,000 award to be presented each year to an individual or community health organization for distinguished accomplishment in the field of urban public health.

The Joan H. Tisch Legacy Project at Hunter College

Urban public health issues - from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, obesity, and diabetes to health disparities due to economic and environmental factors - will be the focus of a major new multi-disciplinary initiative at Hunter College, and named to honor Joan Hyman Tisch.

The Joan H. Tisch Legacy Project is made possible with a one million dollar five-year grant from her children, Academy Award-winning producer and community leader Steven Tisch, philanthropist and activist Laurie M. Tisch, and Loews Corp. Co-Chairman and New York civic leader Jonathan Tisch. The grant is managed by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

The three program components include:

• A Joan H. Tisch Distinguished Fellow in Public Health will be appointed annually to a prominent health care professional with real-world public policy experience. The Fellow will teach undergraduate and graduate students, conduct faculty seminars, and serve as a scholar-in-residence in the Hunter community.


• Joan H. Tisch Public Health Forum, an annual symposium at Hunter College's Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute will focus on national and New York City public health issues, including HIV/AIDS, obesity, diabetes, environmental health, health problems associated with poverty and aging, and public mental health.


• Joan H. Tisch Community Health Prize, a $10,000 award to be presented each year to an individual or community health organization for distinguished accomplishment in the field of urban public health.

The Joan H. Tisch Distinguished Fellow will be resident at Hunter's new Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, a flagship college initiative comprising teaching, research, and public programming in the field of public policy. The Institute will be housed in the former home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt on East 65th St. Currently undergoing renovation, it is scheduled to open in Fall 2009.

Click here for more information about the Roosevelt House at Hunter College