Daisy Soros

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Daisy Soros
Born (1929-09-07) September 7, 1929 (age 91)
Bratislava, Slovakia
CitizenshipAmerican
OccupationPhilanthropist
OrganizationPaul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Spouse(s)Paul Soros
ChildrenPeter, Jeffrey, Steven Paul, Linda
RelativesGeorge Soros (brother-in-law)

Daisy Soros (née Schlenger) is an American philanthropist and supporter of the arts. She is the chairman of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship 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[]

Daisy Margaret Schlenger was born in Bratislava (in modern-day Slovakia) on September 7, 1929, but was raised in Austria and Hungary.[3][4]

After graduating from the Lutheran Gymnasium, she received her diploma from École hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland.[5] She came to the United States on a student visa as a Hungarian citizen, enrolling at Columbia University School of General Studies.

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.

Paul Soros and Daisy Schlenger met in 1950 in New York, where they were both college students living at the International House. They began dating, and married in 1951.[6] They had four children, Peter, Steven Paul, Linda and Jeffrey. Both Peter and Jeffrey serve on the Board of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship Program, Jeffrey as its President.[7] Steven Paul and Linda died in separate accidents in early childhood.[8]

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.[9] In an effort to promote the mission and ideals of academic medicine, she founded the Information Please luncheon lecture series which continues.[citation needed][10] She served on the Board of Overseers for the  Discoveries that Make a Difference Campaign which raised $1.3 billion for the Weill Cornell Medical School and is founder of the Dean’s Council.[11]

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.[12] Initially with a fifty million dollar trust fund, the Soroses donated an additional $25 million in 2010 and have supported over 700 grantees to date.[13][14]

Soros serves on the boards of The Society of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Foreign Policy Association and The American Austrian Foundation. She is an honorary trustee of the International House.[15][16][17]

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.[18][19][20][21]

Awards and honors[]

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

  • The Metro International Fulbright Award,
  • The Lincoln Center Laureate Award,
  • The Ellis Island Medal of Honor,
  • The International House Harry Edmonds Award,
  • The Casita Maria Gold Medal of Honor,
  • The National Immigration Forum's "Keepers of the American Dream Award,"
  • Honors from the Henry Street Settlement,
  • An "honorary" Doctor of Laws at Bates College in Maine,
  • An "honorary" Doctor of Humane Letter from Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York, and[22]
  • An "honorary" Doctor of Arts from the New York School of Interior Design.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship Founders Biography Page Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Paul Soros, shipping titan and older brother to George Soros, dies at 87 Reuters published June 2013
  3. ^ "Daisy Soros celebrates 90th birthday at Rainbow Room". New York Post.
  4. ^ "The New American Kitchen". Recipes and writings about food from The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. July 16, 2018.
  5. ^ Daisy Soros Returns Home After 76 Years
  6. ^ "Giants of Poly: Paul Soros Polytechnic University" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  7. ^ Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships Governance and Administration Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Paul Soros dies at 87; shipping industry titan and prominent philanthropist". The Washington Post. June 20, 2013.
  9. ^ "Weil Cornell Medical College" (PDF). Milestones. December 2013.
  10. ^ "Chronic Pain Discussed at 'Information Please'". Weill Cornell Medicine.
  11. ^ "More than 130 Gifts of $1 Million or More Received by Weill Cornell Since Campaign Launch". Weill Cornell Medicine. April 30, 2013.
  12. ^ Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships Overview accessed January 2015 Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Wall Street Journal: Endowment Gets $25 Million Boost published June 2010
  14. ^ "About page, Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans". Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.
  15. ^ MSK Society Annual Report
  16. ^ The American Austrian Foundation Officers and Trustees
  17. ^ International House New York: Long Time Supporter Dies at 87
  18. ^ New York Philharmonic The Paul and Daisy Soros Endowment Fund
  19. ^ Venetian Heritage Board of Directors
  20. ^ Lincoln Center Board of Directors access January 2015
  21. ^ "Budapest Festival Orchestra: Obituaries accessed January 2015". Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  22. ^ Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship Founders Biography Page Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "Year In Review, Commencement". Atelier.
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