Stephen Ross Philanthropy

Stephen M. Ross is a real estate developer, founder, chairman and CEO of The Related Companies, L.P. (TRC). He started out as a tax lawyer, having earned his degree in taxation from the New York University of Law. He also has a degree in accounting from the Michigan Business School at the University of Michigan.

Stephen Ross’ company, The Related Companies, has developed more than $15 billion worth of properties across the country, including the remarkable 2.8 million square foot, Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle in New York City, said to be worth $1.7 billion. The company is also the major shareholder in CharterMac, the country’s leading finance provider for affordable housing in the U.S., with around 250,000 units across 44 states. As of 2007, Stephen M. Ross ranks No.369 in Forbes’ list of billionaires in the world. He recently purchased Equinox Fitness Clubs, incorporating workout centers into new developments.

In his effort to create a civic impact, Ross is a trustee of the National Building Museum, Guggenheim Museum and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He is also part of the executive committee of NYC2012, which aims to bring the summer Olympic Games to New York City in year 2012. He has also supported the United Jewish Appeal (UJA)-Federation of New York for many years.

Ross has contributed financially to several groups:

• Stephen Ross gave a $5 million pilot gift to Michigan University to fund a new athletic academic center. He pledged another $1 million to create endowed professorship in real estate at the university’s Business School. He also donated $50,000 for establishing the Henry Peace Endowed Fellowship in the university’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
• Stephen M. Ross and his associates in Time Warner Center also gave $60 million for the construction of the 100,000 square-foot new home for the concert hall — Jazz at Lincoln Center
• In 2004, Ross donated $100 million to the University of Michigan Business School, which is the biggest donation ever to a U.S. Business School and the largest gift to the University of Michigan over 187 years. The university’s business school was renamed the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

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