International philanthropist, investor, art collector, public servant and President of the
Jewish National Fund, Ronald S. Lauder combines a deep commitment to his heritage in
a mosaic of philanthropic endeavors that reaches around the world.
Among Ambassador Lauder’s many efforts in the Jewish World, he has done the
following:
World Jewish Congress. In June 2007 Mr. Lauder was elected as President of the World Jewish Congress.
U.S. Ambassador to Austria. Appointed by President Reagan in 1986 as United
States Ambassador to Austria, Ronald Lauder built strong diplomatic bonds
between the two countries while personally repudiated Kurt Waldheim during his
election as President.
The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation. Ambassador Lauder’s experience in Austria
heightened his deep appreciation and commitment to his Jewish heritage.
Afterwards, he sought to revitalize Jewish life across Eastern Europe in
communities that had been devastated by the Holocaust by establishing The
Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in 1987. After twenty years, the Foundation
supports 37 Jewish schools, camps and community centers in Austria, Belarus,
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, German, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and
Ukraine.
In the past two decades, Mr. Lauder’s efforts have awakened thousands of Jewish
youngsters to their common heritage and accomplished something quite
extraordinary: where once Jews were afraid to be openly Jewish, young men now
walk the streets of these countries openly and proudly wearing yarmulkes as they
travel to study and learn.
The Jewish National Fund. In 1997, Mr. Lauder was elected as President of the
Jewish National Fund, one of the oldest and most important philanthropies
designed to aid the State of Israel. Prior to his election, the J.N.F. was beset by
scandal and financial improprieties. Mr. Lauder has been credited with helping
restore the J.N.F.’s solid fiscal reputation and helped turn its focus to the number
one environmental problem facing Israel – it’s growing water crisis.
The Conference of Presidents. In February 1999, Mr. Lauder was elected as
Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations.
World Jewish Restitution Organization. Mr. Lauder’s commitment to Jewish
communal life is further reflected through his leadership as Chairman of the
International Public Committee of the World Jewish Restitution Organization.
Student Exchange Program. To build better understanding between different
people and cultures, Mr. Lauder in 1987 created an International Student
Exchange Program between Jewish high school students in New York City and
Vienna. Since its inception, the program has grown to include students from
Budapest, Warsaw, Prague, St. Petersburg, Berlin and Sofia.
The Committee for Art Recovery. Mr. Lauder’s long interest in art and his
commitment to justice led him to create and head the Committee for Art Recovery
that has helped establish international laws to recover art stolen by the Nazis
during World War II. The Committee has helped retrieve many important
paintings and deliver them to the heirs of their rightful owners. This work
continues to this day with several important projects still ongoing.
A great variety of work. Mr. Lauder also serves as Chairman of the Jewish
Heritage Council; Director of the International Board of Governors of the
International Society for Yad Vashem; member of the United States Holocaust
Memorial Council, member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Theological
Seminary; member of the Board of Directors of the American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee; member of the Board of Trustees of the Anti-Defamation
League Foundation; member of the Board of Trustees of The Abraham Fund;
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sakharov Archives at Brandeis
University and member of the International Board of Governors of the Tel Aviv
Museum. Mr. Lauder combined his belief in free markets, free trade and
democratic capitalism with his interest in Israel, and has been a major supporter of
The Shalem Center, a free market think-tank, in Jerusalem since its founding.
The son of Estee Lauder and the late Joseph Lauder, founders of The Estee Lauder
Companies Inc. Mr. Lauder was born on February 26, 1944. He graduated from the
Bronx High School of Science and holds a Bachelors degree in International Business
from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He studied at the University
of Paris, and received a Certificate in International Business from the University of
Brussels.
