JPMorgan Gives $2.5 Million for Public School Turnaround
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) Foundation last night announced a $2.5 million gift to Turnaround for Children, a New York-based nonprofit that works to transform low-performing schools.
The grant over a three-year period will help pay for full- time social workers and teacher-training dealing with the disruptiveness of poverty. The cost of the Turnaround model at each school is $250,000 a year.
“Turnaround is committed to closing the gap, and so are we,” Kim Jasmin of the foundation said in the ballroom of the Plaza Hotel.
More gifts followed on the occasion of Turnaround’s annual benefit.
Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan’s chairman and chief executive, pledged $25,000. D.E. Shaw Managing Director Trey Beck, Turnaround’s chairman gave $32,000. Both men were absent; Turnaround vice chairman Simone Levinson read their messages aloud, from her Blackberry.
Recording artist John Legend, industrialist David Koch and Blackstone Group Vice Chairman Byron Wien also sent promises of pledges in e-mails. (Wien is the godfather of the eldest child of the founding chairwoman of Turnaround, Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber; her husband, David Gerstenhaber, is president of Argonaut Capital Management.)
Goldie Hawn
Mark Gallogly, co-founder of Centerbridge Partners, was among the guests at the event who made a donation. He and Jeffrey C. Walker, former chairman of CCMP Capital, sat with Goldie Hawn as she ate a whole-wheat roll and filet mignon.
When Hawn took the stage as honoree -- introduced by a fifth grader named Erick DeLaCruz, who aspires to be a New York Yankee -- she spoke about MindUp, the program she started to teach social and emotional skills.
“We want to nurture confidence, optimism and empathy,” the actress said.
Honoree Russ Carson said he became a Turnaround donor after meeting its founder, Dr. Pamela Cantor, at a dinner party.
“I made the mistake of asking her what she does,” Carson said.
Other guests who have made the same mistake: Larry Rogers, David Tepper’s deputy at Appaloosa Management; David Wasserman, a Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC partner; and Atlantic Media Co. chairman David Bradley and his wife, Katherine Bradley, whose CityBridge Foundation is funding the Turnaround model in Washington D.C.
Brooklyn Women
The Brooklyn Museum last night celebrated women artists.
“It’s electric,” said honoree Mickalene Thomas, wearing a black and sequined Margiela blazer and Dries Van Noten pants. “There are many of us here. We are making art. We are in the museums. The times are changing.”
Guests crunched on spring vegetables sprinkled with truffle vinaigrette. The long dinner tables were decked out by artists. Fay Ku lined hers with three-dimensional paper tigers.
Meanwhile at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis played a benefit concert with Paul Simon. Saxophones and trombones cozied up to accordions and washboards.
The audience was up on their well-shod feet for the encore, “You Can Call Me Al.”
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
Today’s Muse highlights include: Jason Harper on Lexus Sport; Rich Jaroslovsky on Connect technology; Zinta Lundborg interviews Maya Lin.
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Turnaround for Children
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Goldie Hawn and Jeffrey C. Walker.
Goldie Hawn and Jeffrey C. Walker. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Turnaround for Children
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
David Gerstenhaber, president, Argonaut Capital Management, and Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, a psychiatrist and founding chairman, Turnaround for Children.
David Gerstenhaber, president, Argonaut Capital Management, and Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, a psychiatrist and founding chairman, Turnaround for Children. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Turnaround for Children
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Mark Gallogly, co-founder, Centerbridge Partners.
Mark Gallogly, co-founder, Centerbridge Partners. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Turnaround for Children
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Jeffrey Aronson, co-founder, Centerbridge Partners, and David Wasserman, CLayton Dubilier & Rice LLC.
Jeffrey Aronson, co-founder, Centerbridge Partners, and David Wasserman, CLayton Dubilier & Rice LLC. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Turnaround for Children
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Delilah Wilson, Kim Jasmin and Gayle Jenningsn of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, which is giving Turnaround for Children a $2.5 million grant.
Delilah Wilson, Kim Jasmin and Gayle Jenningsn of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, which is giving Turnaround for Children a $2.5 million grant. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Turnaround for Children
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Dr. Pamela Cantor, founder, Turnaround for Children, and Rebekah McCabe, a Turnaround board member.
Dr. Pamela Cantor, founder, Turnaround for Children, and Rebekah McCabe, a Turnaround board member. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Turnaround for Children
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
The gala audience gave these kids whoops and hollers for their performance.
The gala audience gave these kids whoops and hollers for their performance. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Brooklyn Museum
Katya Kazakina/Bloomberg
Captions: Mickalene photo: Tracey Riese, member of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art steering committee at the Brooklyn Museum; honoree artist Mickalene Thomas; and artist Elia Alba.
Captions: Mickalene photo: Tracey Riese, member of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art steering committee at the Brooklyn Museum; honoree artist Mickalene Thomas; and artist Elia Alba. Photographer: Katya Kazakina/Bloomberg
Jazz at Lincoln Center
Fay Ku via Bloomberg
Sound check at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Paul Simon and the band. After the concert, band member Mick Rossi joined his girlfriend, artist Fay Ku, at the Brooklyn Museum for the Brooklyn Artist's Ball after-party.
Sound check at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Paul Simon and the band. After the concert, band member Mick Rossi joined his girlfriend, artist Fay Ku, at the Brooklyn Museum for the Brooklyn Artist's Ball after-party. Source: Fay Ku via Bloomberg
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