Charles R. Bronfman
Charles Bronfman retired as an active businessman in 2001 following a 50 year career with The Seagram Company Limited.
Born and raised in Montreal, he began his philanthropic endeavours at 17. In 1973 he was elected President of the Montreal Federation for a two year term. He moved to the United States in 1996 and became Chairman of CLAL in 1998. A year later, he was named Founding Chair of United Jewish Communities (now known as JFNA).
In 1985 his late wife, Andy and he founded the Andrea & Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. Its core programs encourage young people to strengthen their knowledge and appreciation of their history, heritage and cultural identity. Through the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada and Historica Canada and the Karev program in Israel as well as Birthright Israel (for which he is probably best known), these programs have more than achieved their goals.
Mr. Bronfman has been an important investor in Israel and a major supporter of The Israel Museum and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
He was founding Chairman and principal owner of the Montreal Expos, the first Major League Baseball club to exist outside of the United States, which he and his partners sold in 1991 after 22 years of stewardship.
Mr. Bronfman is a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honor. He holds honorary doctorates from universities in Israel, the United States and Canada, where he continues to be active in philanthropic initiatives.