Karen Winnick Receives Arents Award from Syracuse University
October 21, 2010
Karen Winnick, chairman of the Winnick Family Foundation, receives prestigious Arents Award for distinguished alumni from Syracuse University, honoring her work as a philanthropist, literacy advocate, children’s author and illustrator.
Los Angeles, CA, October 19, 2010 – Karen Winnick, chairman of the Winnick Family Foundation, was honored by her alma mater, Syracuse University, at a campus ceremony on October 15 for her work as a children’s book author, illustrator, philanthropist and literacy advocate. Winnick, who graduated from Syracuse University in 1968, received the George Arents Award during the University’s Orange Central homecoming celebration on Friday, October 15 on the Syracuse campus.
Three other distinguished graduates of Syracuse University were also honored on October 15: film and music producer Suzanne de Passe, social activist and advocate for the disabled Brian McLane, and video artist Bill Viola.
Winnick received a bachelor of fine arts degree from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. She has also studied in Florence, Italy, and at New York University, the School of Visual Arts and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Said Nancy Cantor, President and Chancellor of Syracuse University: “Karen Winnick is an author, artist, and philanthropist who has devoted her life to young people and to service in the public arena. Her award-winning words and illustrations have delighted children all over the world, inspiring them to enjoy reading.”
“I owe Syracuse University thanks and gratitude for setting into motion so many of the good things that have followed in my life,” said Mrs. Winnick. “My years at SU taught me independence, encouraged my curiosity and set me on a path of lifelong learning.”
Karen Winnick’s picture books include “Lucy’s Cave,” “Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers,” “Sybil’s Night Ride,” “A Year Goes Round,” “Barn Sneeze,” “The Night of the Fireflies,” “Cassie’s Sweet Berry Pie,” “Sandro’s Dolphin” and “Patch & The Strings.” Winnick presents her work at local public schools, reading to young children to encourage literacy and cultivate the art of storytelling.
Winnick’s paintings have been exhibited in local galleries, and her poetry has been published in magazines and anthologies. She has also produced a play, “Kindertransport,” about Jewish children sent to England from Nazi Germany during World War II.
Winnick also serves as president of the Board of Commissioners of the Los Angeles Zoo; as a member of the Board of Governors of Hillel at Syracuse University; on the Board of Trustees Emeritus at Brown University; and on the boards of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the Jewish Museum, Fauna & Flora International, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.
Arents Awards are the University’s highest alumni honor, named for George Arents, who served on the Syracuse University Board of Trustees from 1930 until his death in 1960. They are presented annually to alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields.
About the Winnick Family Foundation
The Winnick Family Foundation encourages project-specific programs but also selectively supports capital campaigns and unrestricted gifts to grantee organizations. There is a preference for projects in Los Angeles and New York – or for those having an international component.
Foundation naming grants include:
- Winnick Family Clinical Research Institute at Cedars Sinai Hospital
- Winnick House and Arnold S. Winnick Student Center at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University
- Winnick International Conference Center at the Simon Wiesenthal Center / Jerusalem
- Winnick Children’s Zoo in Los Angeles
- Winnick Faculty Scholar at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University
- Winnick Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center
- Arnold & Blanche Winnick Popular Library and Karen Winnick Children’s Gallery at the Los Angeles Central Library
- Winnick Hillel House at Syracuse University
- Winnick Board Room at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
- Winnick Winners Mentoring Program for the Los Angeles Unified School District
- Winnick Fellows at UCLA School of Medicine
- Winnick Gallery at Yeshiva University Museum, Center for Jewish History
Karen and Gary Winnick and the Foundation have endowed university and high school literacy and scholarship programs at Brown University, at Mrs. Winnick’s alma mater Syracuse University, and at Gary Winnick’s alma mater, Long Island University.
They have also funded the transformation of the on-campus C.W. Post mansion administrative center – renamed Winnick House – as well as the main cafeteria which is now named in honor of Mr. Winnick’s late father.
In California, the Foundation has supported educational programs at the California Science Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, KOREH L.A., the Los Angeles Zoo, L.A.’s Best Afterschool Program, the Wonder of Reading, the Fulfillment Fund and Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Center.
Among the many other Foundation grantees are the Special Olympics, The Center for Jewish History, Children’s Scholarship Fund, Partnership for Better Schools, Teach for America, The Gettysburg Foundation, The National Parks Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, The Los Angeles Police Foundation, Shoah Foundation, and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University.
The Foundation also supports charities operating outside the United States, including the International Medical Corps, Flora and Fauna, World Wildlife Fund, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Israel Museum, the Israel Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Zoo, Heifer International and the Bloomfield Science Museum at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. For more information on the Foundation and its work, visit http://www.winnickfamilyfoundation.com on the Web.
Winnick Family Foundation Lauded for Ten Years of Support for Literacy Programs in L.A. Schools
October 21, 2010
Foundation chairman and children’s book author, Karen Winnick, continues to encourage reading for kids
Los Angeles, CA, October 18, 2010- The Winnick Family Foundation was congratulated by the California Readers program, a not-for-profit organization of teachers and teacher-librarians dedicated to providing library books and living authors to elementary schools in California, for the Foundation’s decade-long support of literacy in Los Angeles schools.
Said Karla Forbes, President of the Board of California Readers: “Uniting children with books – and with the real authors and illustrators who create them – is one of the most powerful tools in strengthening literacy and stimulating young minds. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation for the Winnick Family Foundation’s latest donation to California Readers and use the opportunity to thank the Foundation for its ten year support of our efforts to promote literacy and reading in California public schools.”
Said Gary Winnick: “Since 1996, California Readers has provided more than 4,000 books to budget-starved California school libraries and brought living authors to meet in person with students at nearly 50 schools, changing the lives and attitudes towards reading of 30,000 young Californians. We are proud to support California Readers and its success in inspiring the love of books among California’s youngsters.”
Added Ms. Forbes: “In her many visits to elementary schools across Los Angeles, Foundation Chairman Karen Winnick, a successful author of nine children’s books, has seen how the magic of reading brings life into the eyes of children, particularly in these tough economic times. Through its decade-long support of California Readers, Gary and Karen Winnick have made a real and lasting difference in the lives of children and young adults across Southern California.”
About the Winnick Family Foundation
The Winnick Family Foundation encourages project-specific programs but also selectively supports capital campaigns and unrestricted gifts to grantee organizations. There is a preference for projects in Los Angeles and New York – or for those having an international component.
Foundation naming grants include:
- Winnick Family Clinical Research Institute at Cedars Sinai Hospital
- Winnick House and Arnold S. Winnick Student Center at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University
- Winnick International Conference Center at the Simon Wiesenthal Center / Jerusalem
- Winnick Children’s Zoo in Los Angeles
- Winnick Faculty Scholar at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University
- Winnick Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center
- Arnold & Blanche Winnick Popular Library and Karen Winnick Children’s Gallery at the Los Angeles Central Library
- Winnick Hillel House at Syracuse University
- Winnick Board Room at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
- Winnick Winners Mentoring Program for the Los Angeles Unified School District
- Winnick Fellows at UCLA School of Medicine
- Winnick Gallery at Yeshiva University Museum, Center for Jewish History
Karen and Gary Winnick and the Foundation have endowed university and high school literacy and scholarship programs at Brown University, at Mrs. Winnick’s alma mater Syracuse University, and at Gary Winnick’s alma mater, Long Island University.
They have also funded the transformation of the on-campus C.W. Post mansion administrative center – renamed Winnick House – as well as the main cafeteria which is now named in honor of Mr. Winnick’s late father.
In California, the Foundation has supported educational programs at the California Science Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, KOREH L.A., the Los Angeles Zoo, L.A.’s Best Afterschool Program, the Wonder of Reading, the Fulfillment Fund and Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Center.
Among the many other Foundation grantees are the Special Olympics, The Center for Jewish History, Children’s Scholarship Fund, Partnership for Better Schools, Teach for America, The Gettysburg Foundation, The National Parks Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, The Los Angeles Police Foundation, Shoah Foundation, and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University.
The Foundation also supports charities operating outside the United States, including the International Medical Corps, Flora and Fauna, World Wildlife Fund, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Israel Museum, the Israel Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Zoo, Heifer International and the Bloomfield Science Museum at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. For more information on the Foundation and its work, visit http://www.winnickfamilyfoundation.com on the Web.
Born in Seattle, Wingert has worked in Europe with physicians at Danish, German and Polish hospitals and has broad experience in genetic research from summer internships at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Los Angeles, CA, October 11, 2010 – The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA has awarded the Winnick Family Scholarship for 2010-2011 to student Theodora Wingert, Class of 2012.
Said Dr. Gerald Levey, Vice Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine: “Theodora Wingert is a highly intelligent, motivated and empathetic young woman who has a clear focus on the career path she wishes to follow. We are certain she will be leader in the medical field and we are happy to make this grant to her.”
Said Winnick Family Foundation Founder, Gary Winnick: “Throughout her young life, Theodora Wingert has always excelled, finding time for community service – working as a volunteer in inner-city schools and hospitals in California, returning each summer to support genetics research at the University of Washington’s and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Theodora is currently her class representative for the UCLA Well-Being Initiative working on research in autism genetics as well as performing at the top of her class in the core science curriculum. We are proud to present this extraordinary young woman with this scholarship.”
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is an internationally respected leader in research, medical education and patient care. The school has more than 2,000 full-time faculty members, almost 1,300 residents, more than 750 medical students and roughly 400 Ph.D. candidates. The Geffen School is ranked ninth in the country in research funding from the National Institutes of Health and third in the United States in research dollars from total sources.
About the Winnick Family Foundation
The Winnick Family Foundation encourages project-specific programs but also selectively supports capital campaigns and unrestricted gifts to grantee organizations. There is a preference for projects in Los Angeles and New York – or for those having an international component.
Foundation naming grants include:
· Winnick Family Clinical Research Institute at Cedars Sinai Hospital
· Winnick House and Arnold S. Winnick Student Center at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University
· Winnick International Conference Center at the Simon Wiesenthal Center / Jerusalem
· Winnick Children’s Zoo in Los Angeles
· Winnick Faculty Scholar at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University
· Winnick Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center
· Arnold & Blanche Winnick Popular Library and Karen Winnick Children’s Gallery at the Los Angeles Central Library
· Winnick Hillel House at Syracuse University
· Winnick Board Room at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
· Winnick Winners Mentoring Program for the Los Angeles Unified School District
· Winnick Fellows at UCLA School of Medicine
· Winnick Gallery at Yeshiva University Museum, Center for Jewish History
Karen and Gary Winnick and the Foundation have endowed university and high school literacy and scholarship programs at Brown University, at Mrs. Winnick’s alma mater Syracuse University, and at Gary Winnick’s alma mater, Long Island University.
They have also funded the transformation of the on-campus C.W. Post mansion administrative center – renamed Winnick House – as well as the main cafeteria which is now named in honor of Mr. Winnick’s late father.
In California, the Foundation has supported educational programs at the California Science Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, KOREH L.A., the Los Angeles Zoo, L.A.’s Best Afterschool Program, the Wonder of Reading, the Fulfillment Fund and Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Center.
Among the many other Foundation grantees are the Special Olympics, The Center for Jewish History, Children’s Scholarship Fund, Partnership for Better Schools, Teach for America, The Gettysburg Foundation, The National Parks Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, The Los Angeles Police Foundation, Shoah Foundation, and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University.
The Foundation also supports charities operating outside the United States, including the International Medical Corps, Flora and Fauna, World Wildlife Fund, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Israel Museum, the Israel Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Zoo, Heifer International and the Bloomfield Science Museum at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. For more information on the Foundation and its work, visit http://www.winnickfamilyfoundation.com on the Web.
Gary Winnick News 