Daisy Soros

Daisy M. Soros
Born Hungary
Citizenship American
Occupation Philanthropist
Organization Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Spouse(s) Paul Soros
Children Peter and Jeffrey
Relatives George Soros (brother-in-law)

Daisy M. Soros (née Schlenger) is a Hungarian-born American philanthropist and supporter of the arts. She is the chairman of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, a fellowship program that supports two years of graduate studies for 30 New Americans each year.[1] She was married to the late Paul Soros, founder of Soros Associates and older brother of financier George Soros. [2]


Early life and education

Mrs. Soros grew up in Hungary. After graduating the Lutheran Gymnasium, she got her diploma from École hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland [3] She came to the United States on a student visa, enrolling at Columbia University. She later attended the New York School of Interior Design, and NYU’s School of Social Work, and worked extensively as a counselor to terminally ill patients and their families.

Marriage and family

Paul Soros and Daisy Schlenger met in 1950 in New York, where they were both college students living at the International House. Though they had very different personalities (she was extroverted and sociable while he was introverted and quiet), they began dating, and married in 1951. [4] Together they had two children, Peter and Jeffrey. Peter is an investment banker and lives in England with his two sons. [5] Jeffrey, a producer, philanthropist, and former President of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, resides in California with his wife and two children. [6] Both Peter and Jeffrey serve on the Board of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship Program, Jeffrey as its President. [7]

Philanthropy

Soros has been involved with various charitable organizations for decades. In 1993, she became a member of the Board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medical College. In an effort to promote the mission and ideals of academic medicine, she founded the popular Information Please luncheon lecture series. She also serves on the Steering Committee for the Medical College’s Discoveries that Make a Difference Campaign and is founder of the Dean’s Council. In 1997, Paul and Daisy Soros established the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans in order to provide assistance to young New Americans for graduate studies. [8] Initially with a fifty million dollar trust fund, the Soroses donated an additional $25 million in 2010. [9] She also serves on the boards of The Society of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Foreign Policy Association and The American Austrian Foundation. Additionally, she is an honorary trustee of the International House. [10][11][12]

Involvement in the arts

Daisy Soros serves as secretary on the board of the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, director emeritus of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the chairman’s council of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vice President of Venetian Heritage, and is former Chairman of the Board of the Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. [13][14][15][16]

Awards and honors

Soros has received several awards and honors for her philanthropic work, including:

References

  1. ↑ Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship Founders Biography Page
  2. ↑ Paul Soros, shipping titan and older brother to George Soros, dies at 87 Reuters published June 2013
  3. ↑ Daisy Soros Returns Home After 76 Years
  4. ↑ Giants of Poly: Paul Soros Polytechnic University
  5. ↑ New York Times: Peter Soros and Flora Fraser published 1997
  6. ↑ New York Times: WEDDINGS;Jeffrey P. Soros, Catharine A. Cosover published 1995
  7. ↑ Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships Governance and Administration
  8. ↑ Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships Overview accessed January 2015
  9. ↑ Wall Street Journal: Endowment Gets $25 Million Boost published June 2010
  10. ↑ MSK Society Annual Report
  11. ↑ The American Austrian Foundation Officers and Trustees
  12. ↑ International House New York: Long Time Supporter Dies at 87
  13. ↑ New York Philharmonic The Paul and Daisy Soros Endowment Fund
  14. ↑ Venetian Heritage Board of Directors
  15. ↑ Lincoln Center Board of Directors access January 2015
  16. ↑ Budapest Festival Orchestra: Obituaries accessed January 2015
  17. ↑ Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship Founders Biography Page
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