SOURCE OF WEALTH: Grey Global Group, Ocean Road Advisors
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health & Human Services, Jewish Causes, Arts & Culture,
OVERVIEW: Edward and Sandra Meyer move their philanthropy through the Edward & Sandra Meyer Foundation, which, according to available tax filings, gave away around $15.1 million in 2017. Meyer steadily supports his alma mater Cornell and has given significant funds to Weill Cornell Medical College lately. Other interests include Jewish causes and the arts.
BACKGROUND: Edward H. Meyer graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He joined Grey Global Group, an advertising company, in 1970, and eventually rose to chairman and CEO. In 2005, he launched Ocean Road Advisors, a family office and investment management company.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: In 2014, the Meyers, via his foundation, made a $75 million gift to Weill Cornell Medical College to expand and enhance the medical college’s distinguished cancer research and care programs. The gift named the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medical College. In 2012, meanwhile, Edward Meyer funded the Edward H. Meyer Professorship of Economics at his alma mater, Cornell University. Other grantees have included Prep for Prep and The Dalton School.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included NYU Langone Medical Center, Town of Palm Beach United Way, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, and Calvary Hospital. Sandra is also a major supporter of Women for Women International, an institution that helps women move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency.
JEWISH CAUSES: The Meyers have supported American Jewish Committee, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach, and UJA Federation of New York.
ARTS & CULTURE: Sandra is a board member of the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, a summer music festival on Long Island. Other grantees have included Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, American Museum of Natural History, Film Society of Lincoln Center, New York Public Library, Manhattan Theatre Club, and New York Historical Society.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the couple to continue to support their established interest areas. Recently, the bulk of foundation funds have targeted Weill Cornell, but this will likely change once the family’s $75 million gift to the institution is fully distributed.
CONTACT:
The Edward & Sandra Meyer Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address:
Edward & Sandra Meyer Foundation
650 Madison Avenue, 26 Fl
New York, NY 10022
