Obituary: Lawrence S. Phillips, Led Pioneering Jewish Aid Group

Lawrence S. Phillips, the co-founder global relief charity the American Jewish World Service, died Friday at age 88 at his home in Florida, reports The New York Times.

An executive for nearly 50 years with Phillips-Van Heusen, his family’s clothing company, Mr. Phillips launched the service in 1985 with Laurence Simon, now a Brandeis University professor of international development, and served as its chairman until 1991.

The organization was notable for aiming for a broader impact than traditional Jewish charities, which primarily served causes and communities within the faith. Announcing the group’s formation, Mr. Phillips said it was responding to a concern “that there was no Jewish organization dealing exclusively with development projects for non-Jews throughout the world.” It has since provided $270 million to anti-poverty and human-rights efforts in the developing world.

Read a Chronicle of Philanthropy article about the American Jewish World Service’s 2014 Giving Tuesday campaign.