Donald Jonas, Founder of Jonas Philanthropies, Celebrates Milestone 90th Birthday
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Donald Jonas, Founder of Jonas Philanthropies, Celebrates Milestone 90th Birthday
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: On Thursday, May 30, 2019 over 150 distinguished guests from across the country gathered at the St. Regis Hotel’s regal rooftop ballroom to celebrate the 90th birthday of Jonas Philanthropies co-founder Donald Jonas, with special celebration of the life of his late wife and fellow co-founder Barbara Jonas.
Before the evening’s festivities commenced, Mr. Jonas’ son John Jonas gave welcoming remarks, immediately followed by a special video presentation from award-winning documentary filmmaker Carolyn Jones. Celebrated jazz pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton, entertained guests with music throughout dinner and dancing. The pinnacle of the evening: Performances by world renowned ballroom dancers from New York City’s famed Arthur Murray’s dance studio, and an awe-inspiring duet performance by the guest of honor, Mr. Jonas.
The night concluded with several speeches and people toasting to the life and legacy of the Jonas family.
While Mr. Jonas saw tremendous professional success as a retail executive, he and his wife shared a deep passion and vision for transforming our nation’s healthcare system. Together in 2006, they founded The Jonas Center, which would later become Jonas Philanthropies, to address the shortage of professional nurses. Mr. Jonas, a New York City native and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served as Founder and Chairman of the Barbara Lynn retail stores and Belscott Retailers. He also co-founded the Lechters Housewares retail chain, serving as its chairman from 1973 until he retired in 2001. Donald Jonas is an Honorary Trustee of the Horace Mann School and a former board member of Cancer Care, Inc.; the American Jewish Congress; the Guggenheim Museum Business Board; the Dress Barn; and the KIPP Academy Charter School in the Bronx, New York.
Guests of the celebration were encouraged to make donations to Jonas Philanthropies in lieu of gifts. To make a donation or to learn more about Jonas’ Philanthropies work in the healthcare field, please visit https://jonasphilanthropies.org/donate/.
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About Jonas Philanthropies
Jonas Philanthropies is transforming healthcare for the better by investing where it matters most, in solutions that can be scaled for the greatest impact. Its programs address high-need issues and audiences with high-impact solutions: promoting leadership in nursing and veterans healthcare, preventing and treating low vision and blindness, and protecting our children’s environmental health.
For more information about the Jonas Philanthropies, visit jonasphilanthropies.org, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.