History & Founders
Our Founding
The Leichtag Family Foundation is established by Max “Lee” Leichtag and Toni Leichtag
History
Follow Leichtag Foundation’s milestones since being founded by Toni and Lee Leichtag in 1991 and becoming an independent private foundation in 2007.
Since its inception in 1991, the Leichtag Foundation has granted over $147 million. Of this amount, over $132 million has been granted since becoming independent in late 2007. Approximately 21% has stayed in Encinitas
Founders
Max “Lee” Leichtag and his wife, Andre “Toni” Leichtag co-founded the Leichtag Family Foundation in 1991. Their daughter, Joli Ann Leichtag, was actively involved in the Foundation’s activities until her death. In sustaining our deep respect for and honor of the Leichtags’ charitable intent, in 2011 the Foundation sought to deepen its understanding of the Leichtags’ most closely-held values through personal interviews with family and close friends, including many members of the Leichtag Foundation Board. These interviews were woven together to produce The Leichtag Legacy, a movie describing the Leichtags’ journey to becoming philanthropists whose generosity continues to profoundly bless our community. We invite you to view their story to learn more about this extraordinary family.
Max “Lee” Leichtag z”l
Andre “Toni” Leichtag z”l
Joli Ann Leichtag z”l
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Jessica Kort2024-03-04 13:17:222024-03-04 15:35:44Leichtag Foundation Announcement
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Jessica Kort2023-07-28 15:55:532024-05-15 13:00:28Joint Community Statement on Antisemitism at Human Relations Commission
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Jessica Kort2023-03-02 22:20:292023-03-03 15:27:26Purim: A Strengthening of Community
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Jessica Kort2023-02-10 10:07:052023-02-10 13:04:48Celebrating 10 Years of Leichtag Commons
Black, Jewish and Queer. These three identities weave the fabric of who I am, but it took a long time to believe that they could exist together.
Lee and Toni Leichtag established the Leichtag Foundation in 1991 following the sale of their business. Lee and Toni were lifelong entrepreneurs with a passion for innovation and for supporting talent. They believed that only with big risk comes big reward. Both born to families in poverty, Toni to a single mother, they strongly believed in helping those most in need and most vulnerable in our community. While they supported many causes, their strongest support was for young children and the elderly, two demographics who particularly lack voice in our society.
Lifelong Baltimoreans, Rabbi George and Alison Wielechowski and their sons, 11-year-old Lennon and 9-year-old Gideon, are more than pursuing the good life in Southern California. Having moved to San Diego more than three years ago, they are fulfilling a lifelong dream.
You would think that as the executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride, Fernando Zweifach López Jr., who uses the pronoun they, has done all the coming out they possibly can. A queer, non-binary individual who has worked for many years on civil rights issues, López also speaks openly and often about their father’s family, Mexican-American migrant workers who tilled the fields of rural California.
Stacie and Jeff Cook understand commitment. They live it.
