Steven and Alexandra Cohen Top List of Donors to Veterans Causes
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
November 11, 2016 | Read Time: 3 minutes
Hedge-fund billionaire Steven Cohen and his wife, Alexandra, top the list of donors to veterans causes over the last decade, according to data compiled by The Chronicle, funneling $292 million to the cause in two large gifts.
Including the Cohens, only nine individuals or families have publicized gifts of at least $5 million to help or honor former or current military personnel. Together those donors gave a total of more than $414 million to veterans causes.
The Cohens’ largest gift, $275 million, to create the Cohen Veterans Network, supports a new charity that offers free care to former service members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental-health issues. When the Cohens first announced the gift in April, they said the organization planned to open up to 25 clinics across the country over the next five years. So far, the nonprofit has opened five clinics — two in Texas and one each in Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia.
The couple also gave $17 million several years ago to the New York University Langone Medical Center to establish the Cohen Veterans Center for the Study of Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Mr. Cohen is the father of a Marine who served in Afghanistan. He founded SAC Capital Advisors, a hedge fund that now goes by the name Point72 Asset Management. His net worth stands at about $13 billion, according to Forbes.
The Chronicle examined the 11 largest gifts to veterans’ charities during the past decade.
Mr. Cohen and his wife are followed on the list by the late Hector Guy and Doris Di Stefano, who left $34 million to the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust. The couple’s wealth came primarily from UPS stock left to Ms. Di Stefano by her father, who had been a top executive in the company’s early days.
Top Donors to Veterans Since 2006
| Donor | Source of wealth | Amount of gift | Recipient organization | Purpose of gift | Year given |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven and Alexandra Cohen | Mr. Cohen founded SAC Capital Advisors, a hedge fund that now goes by the name Point72 Asset Management. | $275 million | Cohen Veterans Network | To establish a veterans charity that will offer free care to former service members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental-health issues | 2016 |
| Hector Guy and Doris Di Stefano | UPS stock | $34 million | Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust | For programs | 2006 |
| Leslie and Abigail Wexner | Mr. Wexner is founder and CEO of apparel maker L Brands Corporation. | $25 million | Columbus Downtown Development Corporation | To renovate the Franklin County (Ohio) Veterans Memorial | 2013 |
| Steven and Alexandra Cohen | $17 million | New York U. Langone Medical Center | To establish the Cohen Veterans Center for the Study of Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury | 2013 | |
| Frank Fertitta III and his brother Lorenzo Fertitta | Frank Fertitta III is chief exeutive of Station Casinos, and Lorenzo Fertitta is co-owner | $15 million | New York U. Stern School of Business | To endow a new program for U.S. military veteran and active-duty students earning an MBA | |
| Tommy and Terri Nusz | Mr. Nusz is the head of Oasis Petroleum. | $12.3 million | Mississippi State U. | For a variety of programs inlcuding the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans | 2013 |
| Eric Gleacher | Founder of Gleacher and Company, an investment firm | $10 million | U. of Chicago Booth School of Business | To endow scholarships for veterans | 2016 |
| William and Sharon Schoen | Mr. Schoen is the chairman of Health Management Associates. | $10 million | U. of Southern California | To endow scholarships for veterans | 2012 |
| Jack Taylor | Founder of Enterprise Rent-a-Car; died in July | $6 million | Fisher House Foundation | To build temporary housing for military families receiving medical treatment in Charleston, S.C., and Portland, Ore. | 2015 |
| Lois Pope | Widow of Generoso Pope, founder of the National Enquirer | $5 million | Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation | To match donations to construct a memorial in Washington for disabled American veterans | 2006 |
| Lois Pope | $5 million | Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation | For a memorial in Washington to honor disabled American veterans | 2008 |
