Philanthropy

Perelman Family Foundation

Inspired by the dedication and vision of its Chairman and CEO Ronald O. Perelman, MacAndrews & Forbes, its affiliates and the Perelman Family Foundation are firmly committed to philanthropy, focusing on women’s health, education and the arts.  Ranked among the top philanthropists in the United States, Mr. Perelman is driven by the philanthropic ethos that infuses all his endeavors and affiliations.

Mr. Perelman is the founder of the Revlon/UCLA Women’s Cancer Research Program, which analyzes the causes of and develops groundbreaking treatment for breast and ovarian cancer. Launched in 1994, the program was responsible for the development of Herceptin, the first genetically-based treatment for a major cancer to be approved by the FDA, which currently cures more than thirty percent of breast cancer cases in women. In 2014, he co-founded, along with Barbra Streisand, the Women’s Heart Alliance to raise awareness, encourage action and drive new research to fight heart disease in women.

This commitment to philanthropy is demonstrated through the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Emergency Services at NYU Langone Medical Center, a state-of-the-art emergency care location, opened in April 2014;  the Ronald O. Perelman Departments of Emergency Medicine and of Dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, known globally for its innovative leadership in patient care, education and research in the area of dermatologic care; the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital, an internationally-recognized center offering comprehensive, innovative, and world-class cardiovascular care and heart health education; and the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical Center, world-renowned for its commitment to the highest academic and scientific standards for both patient care and cutting-edge scientific research in the areas of fertility health and wellness.  The Perelman Family Foundation has also provided support to Memorial Sloan-Kettering HospitalNational Breast Cancer Coalition, Rockefeller University, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall, Rain Forest Foundation, Myeloma Foundation, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Foundation, One Campaign, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Museum of Modern Art.  

Mr. Perelman is a trustee emeritus of the University of Pennsylvania, where he is a longtime supporter and similarly has sat on the Boards of Brown University, Overseers of Columbia Business School and The Cleveland Clinic.

Mr. Perelman serves as Vice Chairman of the Apollo Theater, and sits on the board of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, and Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.  He is the former chairman of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Most recently, Mr. Perelman has been the lead donor to the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center where he also serves on its Board and is a founding chairman.