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May 28, 1999/13 Sivan 5759, Vol. 51, No.35
Attorney promotes charitable giving and fight for civil rights
LOU HIRSH
Contributing Editor
Stanley Weithorn
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As far as charitable organizations are concerned, Stanley Weithorn has the Midas touch.
When the longtime tax attorney makes his case to corporate clients and philanthropists, the outcome is often a cash windfall for charities that benefit from donations those givers might not otherwise have made.
"I can turn just about any wealthy person into a charitable giver," boasts Weithorn, a recently arrived part-time resident of North Scottsdale.
Over the years, the 74-year-old has become nationally recognized in the fund-raising field, writing definitive books and articles about charitable donations by corporations and individuals. His motivation stems from advice given to him early in life.
"My mother used to say to me, 'When you've got your head above water financially, then it's time to start giving back,' " he says.
Since the early 1960s, Weithorn has devoted considerable time to pro-bono work for charities, as well as convincing organizations, corporations and wealthy individuals to give to those charities, often by setting up charitable foundations. He estimates that his efforts have helped to establish charitable-giving programs at more than 200 companies.
A large portion of the donations he's solicited for his clients have made possible major projects such as nature conservancies, college libraries and other public institutions.
Weithorn, who with his wife, Mikki, also lives part-time in New York and California, is senior counsel at the law firm Fennemore Craig in Phoenix, as well as at the Roberts & Holland firm in New York City.
In recent years, he's also turned his charitable instincts toward service on boards that promote social causes about which he is passionate. His work for Jewish organizations includes his ongoing advisory role with the national office of the Anti-Defamation League.
And about 10 years ago, some of his corporate contacts got him interested in New Israel Fund; he's served on its international board of directors since 1996.
Based on the Jewish concepts of tikkun olam (healing the world) and the pursuit of justice, New Israel Fund backs programs in Israel that promote civil and human rights, religious pluralism, equal rights for women and Jewish-Arab equality. The organization - which maintains offices in the United States, Israel, Canada and England - also deals with environmental issues and government accountability in Israel.
Weithorn says the organization tackles human-rights issues that have long concerned him. Despite his unwavering support for the Jewish state, Weithorn says Israel has numerous internal civil-rights problems to deal with, many of which have taken a back seat to subjects such as the peace process and religious-secular tensions. Immigrants, as well as Palestinian and Arab minorities, are not treated as equals by the native Jewish majority, he says.
Weithorn says he doesn't expect the civil-rights situation to change significantly, at least in the short term, as the new government of Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak takes office.
Weithorn says the NIF is also concerned about pluralism in Israel, and is seeking to promote better relations among religious denominations and combat attempts by ultra-Orthodox groups to maintain control of institutions. Over all, about 200 organizations in Israel are doing tolerance and civil-rights programs with the help of New Israel Fund.
Those wishing to find out more about New Israel Fund can write to 1625 K Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20006-1604; or call (202) 223-3333. The organization's Web address is www.nif.org.
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