Palm Beach Philanthropy: Brooklyn-born Dodgers fan wins Alexis de Tocqueville award
Alan Curtis is a guy who usually shuns the spotlight.
But he had nowhere to hide on Monday night when he was named the recipient of the annual Distinguished Citizen Award from the Town of Palm Beach United Way.
The award presentation is part of the annual Alexis deTocqueville Society dinner, which honors the United Way's top-tier donors. It was held at Club Colette.
The award is the highest accolade bestowed by the Town of Palm Beach United Way and is given each year to an individual or individuals who embody the spirit of philanthropy. The recipient's identity is kept secret until the moment of the presentation.
Recipients are community champions who have made numerous and long-lasting contributions to the health and welfare of Palm Beach County. Past honorees include James Borynack, Irene and Jim Karp, Norma and Bill Tiefel, Jana and John Scarpa, Tom Quick, and Mayor Danielle Moore.
“The spirit of philanthropy that Alan has demonstrated throughout his lifetime and instilled in his children, friends, neighbors, colleagues and community will last for generations,” said dinner chairwoman Susan Wright, who presented Curtis with the crystal award. “He’s a humble man but his decades of charitable work have had immense impact on numerous nonprofits and thousands of lives.”
With his wife Christine, Curtis has been a loyal contributor to the Town of Palm Beach United Way for 27 years, with cumulative giving to the organization totaling over $2.3 million.
He was among the earliest chairmen of the Tocqueville Society ― comprising donors of $10,000 or more annually ― and has taken part in its cabinet since the early 1990s.
With a keen philanthropic focus on health and human services, Curtis is known for his long-standing commitment to the Children’s Home Society, St. Mary’s Hospital, Morse Life, Planned Parenthood, Cleveland Clinic, the ACLU, the Jewish Federation, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Born in New York's Brooklyn borough to a family of modest means, he began working a day job at age 17 to put himself through Pace University at night.
After graduating he went to Wall Street, where he came to be recognized as one of the foremost arbitrageurs on "The Street" from the late 1960s until his retirement in 1990 as a senior partner at Dillon Read & Co.
After his retirement, he and his wife Christine moved to Palm Beach, where he remains a Dodgers fan.
Susan and Bob Wright are chairs of this year’s Tocqueville Society with Kimberly Goodwin and Josephine Kalisman serving as co-chairs. To date, members have raised $4.8 million on a goal of $5 million. Since 1990, the Society has raised over $98 million to help people in need throughout Palm Beach County.
More than 150 people attended Monday's event.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Longtime United Way supporter named charity's Distinguished Citizen
