By Ellen Braunstein
For Alan Lindy, philanthropy is a family affair. Together, his entire family donates millions to nonprofits and actively serves on boards — all to carry on their parents’ legacy of generosity and volunteerism.
Lindy credits his family members, including siblings Frank and Elaine, for joining him in the work begun decades ago by their parents, the late Annabel and Philip B. Lindy. His parents started nonprofits that the family still supports.
“We try to be supportive where we can,” Lindy said. “My parents are living in our heart and hopefully in the work that we do.”
Some of the resources for the family’s charitable foundation come from Lindy Communities, a fourth-generation family business that provides apartments in four states. Alan Lindy is semi-retired.
Not all the nonprofits served by the family are Jewish. But they all have something in common. “They have Jewish values, a valuable purpose and role,” said Lindy, who turns 70 on Feb. 26.
The local organizations supported by the Lindy family include Jefferson and Drexel universities, Temple University Hillel, Legacy Youth Tennis and Education, Federation Housing, The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and After School Activities Partnerships, among others.
“They all require a certain amount of work and engagement to help with their effectiveness,” Lindy said.
Lindy’s mother served for 15 years on the board of Federation Housing, a provider of affordable senior apartments in the Jewish community. “When she got off the board, she asked if I could pick up where she left off,” Lindy said. “It’s a good organization that provides a great service.”
Lindy has served for 25 years on the board of Federation Housing. The Jewish organization provides housing in apartment complexes for seniors. A $1.6 million gift from the Lindy family funded a Willow Grove apartment building that was named Annabel Gardens for Lindy’s mother.
“He’s a mensch,” said Eric Naftulin, executive director of Federation Housing. “He does not speak of his Philadelphia work and he does a lot of it.”
Alan Lindy has supported his sister Elaine’s effort to create play yards for Philadelphia public elementary schools, with close to 40 completed to date.
Lindy, an avid tennis player, contributes to Legacy Youth Tennis and Education, because “it provides a better playing field, opportunities for local youth who have more challenges from the start.”
Lindy’s love of chess inspired his involvement with ASAP, a program for inner city youth. Justin Ennis was the executive director when he came to know Lindy.
“He’s a man of few words, but certainly very committed to our citywide chess initiative,” Ennis said. His financial contribution enables the organization to take 100 kids a year from Philadelphia to the state chess championships.
“Of our hundreds of funders, Alan is one of the only ones that comes to our chess tournaments and acts like a cheerleader,” Ennis said. “He was like any other kid looking to play chess with other players there. That was very meaningful to us.”
Sharing Excess, a food bank, is a recent and important cause for Lindy. “It provides fresh food for communities where there might not be the opportunity or affordability,” he said. ”We’re very impressed with the organization in terms of its effectiveness and cost efficiency.”
Stenton Family Manor and Valley Youth House are homeless shelters that have undergone renovations thanks to the Lindys.
Lindy has continued the work of his father as a financial contributor and program volunteer for Drexel University. The Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation, the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement and the Lindy Scholars Program were started by his father.
Lindy is committed to making a local impact with a strong focus on youth.
“If you are going to make an impact, you’re probably more effective making it for people who are younger,” he said.
Lindy was raised in Cheltenham, where his family attended Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel.
He also attended Drew University in northern New Jersey, moved to New England, where he worked in human services, and established himself in real estate.
From 1977 to 1985, he worked for a nonprofit that opened group homes for the developmentally disabled.
He moved to Elkins Park in 1985 and now lives in Ambler. The family joined Or Hadash, which had formed a year earlier as a Reconstructionist synagogue in Fort Washington.
“It’s the right fit,” said Lindy, who is a past board member. “I enjoy the values and the welcoming community.” Lindy and his wife, Carolyn, helped the synagogue erect an outdoor memorial and exhibit for victims of the Holocaust. The same gift supported a Holocaust education fund.
Lindy also served on the board of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote. “I felt privileged to be asked and hopefully was able to make a contribution.”
Lindy and his wife established funds for the Hebrew Free Loan Society of Greater Philadelphia. “He does what he believes in. It never feels like his ego is in it or that he is seeking out attention. It’s always about doing good work and helping the community,” said Executive Director Anna Marx.
Lindy is a father of five and grandfather to four children, ages 5 to 9. He wants to make sure the younger generations stay involved, said his son Jeremy Lindy.
“It’s that kind of goodwill, trying to make Philadelphia a better place,” the son added.
Lindy said he feels blessed “by the opportunity to have the resources of the business and parents as role models and my very supportive wife and children behind me. I feel it’s an obligation.”
Ellen Braunstein is a freelance writer.