The things Rosenwald saw as wrong in American society were many and varied, but he focused his prime interest on creating educational facilities for African-Americans, medical care, better government, and Jewish charities and institutions. Rosenwald summarized his philosophy of philanthropy quite simply: “What I want to do is try and cure the things that seem wrong.” He set out on this task with abundant wealth derived from his leadership of Sears, Roebuck, a strong social conscience, and the practical zeal and organizing ability of an eminently successful American businessman. He also established one of the first urban housing developments on Chicago’s South Side and founded the city’s Museum of Science and Industry. He funded schools and support buildings for rural African-Americans in the South and contributed $6 million to support Russian Jews settling in southern Russia and Palestine. Washington at the Tuskegee Institute and established YMCAs and YWCAs to serve African-American communities in cities across the United States. In 1917, he created the Julius Rosenwald Fund to contribute to the “well-being of mankind.” He supported the work of Booker T. He played a leading role in many progressive social reform organizations in Chicago, and became the first president of the combined Jewish Charities of Chicago. Rosenwald’s success as a businessman and executive was matched by his many accomplishments as a philanthropist and humanitarian. Rosenwald married Augusta Nusbaum, of Chicago, on April 8,1890. Under his leadership, Sears developed its lucrative nationwide mail-order business, established savings and profit-sharing plans for employees, and became America’s largest retailer. He served Sears, Roebuck successively as vice president (1895-1910), president (1910-1924), and chairman of the board (1924-1932). After Sears, Roebuck & Company moved its headquarters to Chicago in 1893, Rosenwald was asked to become a partner in the company. In 1885, Rosenwald came to Chicago, where he joined his cousin Julius Weil to operate Rosenwald & Weil, a retail men’s clothing store. Rosenwald was educated in the public schools in Springfield, and in 1879 began his business career with Hammerslough Brothers, wholesale clothiers in New York City. Julius Rosenwald was born on August 12, 1862, to Samuel and Augusta Rosenwald, both Jewish immigrants from Germany, in Springfield, Illinois. His creation of the Julius Rosenwald Fund as a self-expiring entity, ending with his demise, established new criteria for philanthropy.īiography (from University of Chicago Library Biographical Notes) He is credited with donating more than $65 million to various causes, including creating settlements for Jews in Russia, constructing over 5,000 schools for African-Americans in the South, and building 25 Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) facilities and three Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) facilities to serve African-American communities. His fortune was amassed during a career that culminated in his presidency of Sears, Roebuck & Company, and was used to create programs that addressed inequality in the education of Jewish and African-American populations. Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) utilized his fame and fortune for the benefit of humankind through his practice of philanthropy.
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