THE LIFE PATH (more or less) of BOB HOWITT
Born in Rochester, New York a very long time ago and moved at age three months to the suburban one-traffic light town of West Henrietta.
Fast forward: graduated University of Pennsylvania: Bachelor’s in Economics.
Various Wall Street jobs from 1965-1969, at which time I was fired by a money manager who subsequently murdered his wife, was apprehended wearing women’s clothing, and died in prison. For three years, I was self-unemployed and survived through some consulting, some writing, and some waiting on table, plus the sale of my Haloid stock.
After a two-year stint at Hallgarten & Co., joined First Manhattan Co. in 1974 as a security analyst; was named to the Institutional Investor All-Star Team. Became a portfolio manager and general partner.
In 1986-89, volunteered in homeless shelters in New York City. An insightful, but alas, unpublished manuscript, 18 Months in The Basement, ensued from my conversations with homeless people and related research into homelessness.
Left First Manhattan in 1992 to create the WKBJ Foundation and become Executive-Director of the “MADE in Dover” (MID) education program created by myself and my wife for students in the Dover, New Jersey area. MID had 61 active participants, who were incentivized to attend college.
As I was leaving First Manhattan, was asked by the Board of Directors of The Door to become its interim Executive-Director. From its inception in New York City, The Door has been a nationally known youth agency; however, at the time, it was managerially and financially challenged. With the help of the Board was able to save a basically bankrupt entity and subsequently merge it into University Settlement Society, while retaining its program identity. Today, every weekday afternoon, The Door serves over 400 young people (12-21) with a long list of services, all of which are free.
In 1996, as a foundation funder (WKBJ) and initial board chairman, was co-founder with Norman Atkins and Jamey Verrilli of North Star Academy Charter School of Newark. Begun with 72 students, it now has over 2,500. NSA is part of the non-profit Uncommon Schools group, which encompasses 38 schools with 10,000+ students. I am currently on the board of two networks within Uncommon Schools: North Star and Collegiate Prep.
From 1998 to date, trustee of the Charles Hayden Foundation, which makes annual grants of approximately $14 million to various education and youth development programs in New York City/Newark and Boston.
Beginning in 2000, led an education program in Dover entitled “I WILL WALK!” It assisted 79 adults to gain college degrees. IWW! completed its mission 12/31/09.
In 2004, with the help of a young graduate of MID, began publishing Forum magazine.
In 2008, formed “Project 2050.” This was comprised of 41 students attending four (38) and two-year (3) colleges. The name referred to the demographic projection showing no ethnic majority in the United States by 2050 (now it is 2043). Membership is diverse.
In 2009, put together Project 2015, which encompasses nine Hispanic members from the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, New York City. All are in college.
Currently am winding up the use of WKBJ assets by providing Last Dollar Commitments on a semester-by-semester basis to a dozen students.
Enough said—there is insufficient space to discuss my basketball exploits.