EUROPE: Ronald S. Lauder Foundation builds Jewish education centres in seventeen countries 

THE RONALD S. LAUDER FOUNDATION is supporting Jewish education in Central and Eastern Europe. Founded in 1987, the Foundation has created, managed, funded and partnered kindergartens, schools, youth centres, holiday camps and institutions of higher education in seventeen countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe. With their flagship projects in Austria, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and in Russia, the Lauder Foundation reaches over 4,000 children each year with a total of 30,000 children over the past 25 years.

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Headquartered today in the city of Berlin Germany, the Lauder Foundation was established and is led by its ambassador, Ronald S. Lauder, a noted philanthropist, businessman, diplomat and Jewish leader. Ambassador Ronald Lauders’ vision has long driven the Foundation to create and support institutions designed to bring about significant change to Jewish life in Europe, including for example, the Lauder Business School in Vienna, Austria and the Rabbinerseminar zu Berlin in Berlin, Germany.

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Lauder said in a statement: “Our long-term philanthropy policy seeks to underwrite the future of Jewish life in Europe, both communal and the individual developments, by continuously supporting excellent Jewish schools. But what exactly is an excellent Jewish school? One that prepares young Jews to be successful, both personally and professionally and who inspire a continuous active participation in Jewish life.”

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It is the goal of The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation to support new communities, especially Jewish children. By providing them with quality opportunities through Jewish education, they are able to develop into proud and informed Jewish adults. As these young Jews learn about their culture and faith, they inspire their parents to continually do the same.

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The Javne Fund, a tax-exempt organisation created in 1995 enables all those concerned to donate funds to encourage this exciting renewal of Jewish life in Central and Eastern Europe. Through The Javne Fund, which supports programs of Jewish education and community outreach, those who contribute and those who receive are allowed the chance to reconnect with their Jewish past and roots.

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Lauder was elected president of the World Jewish Congress in 2007. He has met with a number of heads of state and government, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Pope Benedict XVI, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, Czech President Václav Klaus, the Hungarian PM Ferenc Gyurcsány, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah of Jordan and Swiss President Pascal Couchepin. 

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Please visit Lauderfoundation.com for more information.