The Trump Charity Timeline
Bert Lancaster, a veteran, athlete, and Philadelphia community activist, served on the Olympic Track Committee in 1984, sponsored the 1964 Philadelphia Summer Youth Games, and founded the Dr. Martin Luther Games Jr. International Freedom Games. A Young Penn Wharton School student named Donald Trump assisted him.
Established in 1969 as highest recognition for distinguished service at National Jewish Health, the annual Humanitarian Award has been earned over the years by the many great people, including Donald J. Trump.
National Jewish Health is an academic hospital / clinic in Denver, Colorado that carries out research and treatment in respiratory, heart, immune and related disorders. Like Mayo Clinic and other well known medical centers, it draws people from many countries to receive care. Founded in 1899 to treat tuberculosis, it was non-sectarian, but received funding from B’nai B’rith in the 1950s. U.S.A. National Jewish Health was ranked by News and the World Report as the leading US respiratory hospital.
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It was a triple header birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall. Israel’s 33rd, Carnegie Hall’s 90th and Jewish National Fund’s 80th! What better way to celebrate than with the deluxe Israel Ballet Company under the direction of Berta Yampolsky and Hillel Markman, artistic directors, with the JNF playing host. Rabbi William Berkowitz, its president had so noted in his welcoming address on the mammoth stage of Carnegie Hall.
George Balanchine, the noted choreographer, present in vi the first row was recipient of a special award for his artistic x achievement. In proper tribute the first dance work, “Serenade”, was his, an arrangement born in 1934 as the first ballet designed by him in the United States for Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings.”
The performance of the Israel Ballet was richly mated to it and the other works performed. They were sheer, fluid magic on stage with steps of heavenly, design. Their performance was of the quality toasted by the most renowned and older companies that have graced the world’s theaters of dance. Roy M. Cohn was chairman. Present in the Hall were Israel Ambassador Efralm Evron, Mrs. Yehuda Blum, Dr. HaCohen, executive with Bank Leumi of New York, one of the ballet’s sponsors. Over $150,000 was raised by the event and by the subscription of a number of Patrons and Sponsors that included Donald Trump, the real estate king in New York City: Victor Potamkin of the Cadillac auto dealership; Jerry Finkelstein, Wall Street Journal owner; Chase Manhattan Bank, Israel Discount Bank and Pspildky Caterers, among others.
Sinai was evacuated as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt which Gush Katif in Gaza was done so at the behest of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a unilateral withdrawal. According to various estimations, Trump’s financial donations amounted to millions of shekels.
It also turns out that Donald Trump contributed some of his wealth in 1980 toward evacuating settlements in the Sinai and his name appears on a list of donors in the Hevel Shalom region which absorbed the evacuees from Sinai and Gaza.
For all of his life long support of Jews he has been honored many times.
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The affair was the most successful of JNF’s history and one of the most fabulous that we have covered. The scene, The Grand Hyatt Hotel, on 42nd and Lexington Avenue renovated into modernity by Trump a few short years ago. The grand ballroom sported a replica of the New York Horizon skyline featuring the Trump Tower outlined in glowing light bulbs a la Broadway theatres.
The decor in black and white for dramatic beauty where even each chair was fitted with a white-back slip covering; where each black table cloth had white napkins in fan shape splendor encased in a lucite napkin holder, each black flower vase sprayed two dozen white long-stemmed roses and each guest received a white carnation in plastic green holder for dress or jacket. Entertainment was continuous by The L’CIique Players — mimes and assorted acts in costumes from a Hollywood version of “Over The Rainbow,” a full band and entertainers with a Liza Minnelli lookalike and soundalike.
At the reception, I greeted George Klein, Republican national Jewish liaison leader and real estate industrialist; Dr. Mordecai HaCohen, a top executive of Bank Leumi who was introducing the new president of the bank in the U.S., Israeli David Novick. The Hon. Jerome Becker, who recently resigned as a New York City Criminal Court Judge, quite active on the Jewish scene and on JNF’s N.Y. board along with Roy Cohen, another prominent attorney who wore a gray tuxedo among the many black tuxes.
Former Governor Hugh L. Carey, pounds lighter since leaving as head of New York State, with luscious wife Evangeline Goulelas Carey, who looked regal in a long black velvet gown outlined in gold braiding, which also in a lighter version was threaded through her hair braid. The Carey’s were the dinnermates of the Leonard Goldensons, ABC-TV president who has just retired. Both couples, guests of Donald Trump, he told all. Gov. Cuomo’s newest appointee, Dr. Israel Mowshowitz, liaison to the Jewish community, delivered greetings from Gov. Cuomo and also gave the invocation. Mowshowitz is now rabbi emeritus of the Hillcrest Jewish Center.
Hank Sopher, JNF N.Y. Region head was dinner co-chairman, sharing the introductory honors with Ben Holloway, a close friend of the Trump family. Donald Trump, appearing even years younger than 38, with a boyish grin, told the 1,500 guests that he accepted the JNF bid to honor him — noting that there had been numerous requests rejected from many notable organizations “because a dear friend, Bunny Lindenbaum, who passed on several years ago was such a strong supporter and taught us what the initials JNF has meant in the growth of Israel. …” (Lindenbaum was a prominent attorney involved in real estate, a Brooklyn resident, lifetime member of the Brooklyn Jewish Center.
A number of his family and law associates were present ‘sheping nachus’ . Dr. I. Cohen, JNF executive, represented the group, as President Charlotte Jacobson was in Israel where the JNF was holding its annual meeting. Dr. Cohen explained about the Donald Trump project in Pitchat Shalom named in honor of this young man who heads one of the top, if not the top real estate developing firms in the USA. For his dedication and commitment, JNF is naming its project in Pitchat Shalom for him. Located less than ten kilometers from the newly-created border with Egypt, it was created to provide those settlers relocating from the Sinai with homes, industry and security.
Donald Trump had his wife, sister, brother, parents (Fred Trump who built thousands of Brooklyn homes over 40 years ago where Jews were the principal buyers) stand up for recognition. Of the 150 tables of ten, headed by leaders of many of the industries doing business with Trump, or associates in the building empire, or friends of JNF, we found our seat at the Rapid American Corporation table, a firm that is headed by Israeli-born Meshulani Riklis, who was not present although his parents Pinchus and Batya Riklis were.
The annual reunion of black former baseball players from the old Negro leagues started in Ashland Wednesday and will continue through today. The event reunited a number of players who were banned from white professional baseball during the first 4 1/2 decades of the century. Previous reunions had been held during the summer, but this year’s was delayed because of financing problems.
A banquet last night was expected to feature Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Monte Irvin, Bob Feller, Buck Leonard and Judy Johnson. Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and A. B. “Happy” Chandler, the former baseball commissioner and governor of Kentucky, were also expected, as were more than 40 baseball stars of yesteryear. The reunion was made possible through underwriting by the Alcoa Foundation, the Donald Trump Foundation and the Ashland Oil Foundation.
The annual reunion of former black baseball players from the old Negro leagues will be held again in Ashland, and outgoing commissioner Bowie Kuhn is expected to show up. The Nov 24 event will reunite players who were banned from white professional baseball during the first 4 1/2 decades of the century because of race. Previous reunions had been held during the summer, but this year’s was delayed because of funding problems.
“We were discouraged when the people who funded it for the last two years weren’t able to continue,” Wiley said. “It has taken us this long to find new sponsors ” Wiley said Monday in a telephone interview that money has been contributed by the Alcoa Foundation, the Donald Trump Foundation and the Ashland Oil Foundation. He said the later date would enable modern players who are interested to attend.
Besides Kuhn, others expected to attend are former commissioner A.B-(Happy) Chandler and Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Buck Leonard, Judy Johnson and Monte Irvin, now an aide to Kuhn. Chandler, a former two-term governor of Kentucky and former United States Senator, was commissioner when Jackie Robinson broke the color line of the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Wiley said there will be a special honoree this year, but he doesn’t know who it will be.
The reunion will begin with a showing of the documentary film about life in the old Negro leagues “There was Always Sun Shining Someplace.” The movie was broadcast by the Public Broadcasting System last summer.
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We were glad to be part of the 8th annual Sports Award affair by American Friends of Hebrew U. Baseball great Lee MacPhail, who has floated over the sports scene for over 40 years. What we found particularly laudable was that no-one of the least hosts, Howard Cosell, spoke of Russia or its pulling out of the Olympics along with the string of satellite lands that did the same.
Each one here just ignored the boycott, instead of weeping or offering recipes for this crowd. The annual dinner was conceived and developed by AFHU to commemorate the 11 Israelis who were senselessly slain at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Each year, Cosell, who was assigned to the tragedy in Munich, recalls that act of infamy. Without attempting to veil his emotion, he denounces the action. At the same time, each year, he repeats the resurgence of his Jewish faith, of the pride in his roots and of the more profound feelings that then surfaced and remained as strong as ever “being a Jew.”
Cosell’s love towards Israel, he notes, takes on a peculiar glory because AFHu has established the “Howard Cosell Center of Physical Education at the Hebrew U.” Sonny Werblin, head of Madison Square Garden, is the National Chairman and Bowie Kuhn, former Commissioner of Baseball, is the Deputy Chairman of the Cosell Centre. The dinner is always a fabulous, colorfully decorated event… Team pennants stained all around the room, real Yankee and Mets caps atop miniature baseball bats blazoned by guests of honor (MacPhail-Louisville Slugger).
Sanford Weill, President of the American Express Company, chaired the affair. Robert S. Savin, Westchester County business exec, heads the AFHU National Sports Committee. Beamon, an Olympic Champion, admitted to his guests that before his winning event in the history of sports,’ I ate a bagel and a lox breakfast, and they did wonders for me…’ Howard Cosell “kvelled” his arm around Beamon with smiles shining forth like he said: “Never allow them to downgrade bagels and lox. It’s an ethnic meal to be proud of!
“Another famous international sports and dignitaries present in honor of the memory of Munich 11 Israeli athletes were former New York governor Hugh L. Carey, Donald Trump, Immobiliary tycoon and owner of the General Football Team, ex-Mayor John Lindsay of New York City. Also: Howard Samuels, Israel Bond Chair of New York City and former Off Track of Betting Czar; AUie Sherman; Joe Walton; José Torres; Angel Cordero; Robert J. Corny; Frank Gifford; Nat Holman; Mrs. Elston Howard; and GoHe Howe, among others. “Honoree Lee MacPhail is regarded as one of the prime movers and shapers of major league baseball for the past 40 years,’ said Robert Low, who gave the AFHU lecture to MacPhail.”
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The Tree of Life Award, the most prestigious award of the Jewish National Fund went to Benjamin D. Holloway, chairman and chief executive officer of Equitable Real Estate Group, Inc., at its annual Real Estate Divisions dinner dance in the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Donald Trump, JNF’s 1983 awardee, was chairman. The Holloway Park and Recreation area is being established at the Hazorea Forest, Haifa, in his honor.
Trump, in lauding Holloway, pointed out that the Hyatt Hotel was renovated by him (Trump) with the financial backing of Holloway’s Equitable group “What better place to hold this gala affair,” the young wizard of the New York real estate scene noted. More than $700,000 was realized at this JNF’s largest fundraising affair in this division or any other,” Dr. Cohen, executive vice president of the JNF told me. The Tree of Life Award was seeded in 1981 with Evangeline Gouletas Carey (wife of then New York Governor Hugh Carey) and her brother, Nicholas Gouletas, to officially launch JNF’s real estate benefactors.
That this set of builders should by their interest and concern be responsible for the continued upbuilding of a land 6,000 miles away is a welcome development. More than half of the guests were not of the Jewish faith. But this JNF affair was introducing them to Israel in the language they understand best — upbuilding barren areas. Hank Sopher, the New York area president, seemed to sum it up and tie up the strings well from USA to Israel, in his brief address. In praising Holloway, he noted that he gave more than financial support, “but also your time, your energy and your ideas.”
Then referring to his American creative genius, “I also want to express the appreciation of your colleagues and friends in the real estate industry for your vision and imagination, which have transformed the skyline of New York and dramatically improved the architecture of cities across the United States…It is exciting and encouraging that when Israel is faced with so many problems today, we can count on your support and commitment to the cause of Zionism and to the work of the JNF.” Then referring to the park in Haifa that will bear his name,” and the residents of Haifa and all of this great little land, will enjoy its environment.” Enjoying the evening were the almost 1,000 guests.
SOCIAL CALENDAR BY JEAN HERSCHAFT
Peter V. Ueberroth, commissioner of baseball who was active in solving the player’s strike recently was the honored guest at the American Friends of Hebrew University’s ninth annual sports dinner recently.
Ueberroth, former president of the Lou Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, was Time Magazine’s selection for the 1984 “Man of the Year Award” for his supreme skill in “making the Games work and work brilliantly.” Under his direction the Los Angeles Olympic Games resulted in a $150 million surplus, which goes to youth and sports’ programs throughout the United States.
His selection as AFHU Torch of Leaning Laureate was announced by S. Slavin, chairman of the AFHL National Munich Eleven Sports program. The Munich Eleven dinner has become a major annual event for athletes, sports figures and enthusiasts. Among those involved each year are Bowie Kuhn, Ueberroth’s predecessor as baseball commissioner; David “Sonny” Werblin, president of Madison Square Garden: Edward Bennet Williams and Lee MacPhail.
Proceeds from the dinner provide aid for needy students at the HU Jerusalem.
Chairman of the affair and host of the evening was the young business tycoon, Donald Trump. He had introduced the Westchester Jewish Center’s Rabbi Irving Kosslow, who requested the guests to stand for a “moment of prayer” for the 11 athletes killed by terrorists at the Munich Olympics, in 1972.
Each year noted sportscaster Howard Cosell shares the same recollection of the Munich massacre with guests at the sports dinner, titled “A Tragedy Recalled”.
“I lay there, on top of that little slope, forty, maybe fifty feet from building 31.
The hours passed, and my feelings of helplessness, frustration , outrage, and despair grew. How many, if any were still alive? How could this have happened? Where were the West German police? The whole thing was a dream.
But it wasnt. Occasionally there were those Arab faces at the windows. Suddenly, there were dozens of West German police (where were they last night?) strapping on their guns, encircling the building, climbing to the roof.
I thought of a thousand things, Dachau only a few miles away. Hitler. Six million. Emmy, who I knew was at Barnathan’s Bungalow, ABC’s operations headquarters just outside the athletes’ entrance to the village. Was she all right? Was she worried? What the hell was going on? How the hell did this horror happen? I just wanted her safe.
I thought of my girls, Jill and Hilary, at home. How frightened and unbelieving they must be. And of David Berger, in that building, the kid from Cleveland for whom moving to Israel was a lifetime crusade. Would they ever stop killing Jews, I wondered bitterly. I looked behind me. I could see athletes in the distance, from many countries, playing pingpong, basketball, fun and games. ‘God damn them,’ I thought, ‘their goddamn games.’ But, I realized, they don’t know. They don’t haves clue as to what’s happening-not yet anyway. They were all killed – all 11 of them. Make it six million and eleven. And how many more only God knows. But they’ll never kill us all. Sept. 6, 1972, the Games went on – Avery Brundage saw to that.”
Former Israel Ambassador to the United States Simcha Dinitz, now president of Hebrew University, was in for the dinner as well.
Dinitz spoke of Israel’s severe economic measures. “Our University faculty, “he said, “took an 8 percent cut in salary in order that services at Hebrew University won’t he cut, assuring all students maintenance of the same high Standards in education.” He referred to terrorism assuring that Israel will stand with the United States together against terrorism.”
The grand ballroom of the Hilton Hotel was studded with stars of the sports world, leading Ueberroth to remark, “It’s the finest group of athletes ever assembled anywhere- in memorial tribute to the Munich 11.”
Among the sports greats. Nat Holman, Floyd Patterson, Rusty Staub, Jerry Cooney, Lee McPhail, Mel Allen, Jose Torres, Herschel Walker, Wesley Walker, Gordie How, Al Sherman, Eddie Mo and Ralph Kiner.
