| Dorothy Cullman | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 18, 1918 New York City, New York, United States |
| Died | April 6, 2009 (aged 91) New York City, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Philanthropy |
| Spouse(s) | Charles Benenson (1942– ) Lewis B. Cullman (1963–her death) |
Dorothy Cullman (18 February 1918 – 6 April 2009) was an American television producer and philanthropist. She and her husband, Lewis B. Cullman, contributed a combined $250 million to numerous organizations over forty years. She served on the boards of multiple arts-related organizations, and produced several television programs which aired on WNET.
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Born Dorothy Freedman in Manhattan, New York, she was the daughter of William and Lois Freedman. In her early years, she modeled for Saks Fifth Avenue, and studied drama.[1] She attended Rollins College in the 1930s for two years. After attending college, she returned to New York where she married Charles Benenson in 1942.[2] Dorothy and Charles were later divorced, and she remarried in 1963 to Lewis B. Cullman. Both Cullman and Freedman were raising funds for the World Federation for Mental Health when they met.[3][1]
The Cullmans donated a combined $250 million to a number of organizations in support of the arts, science, and education.[2][1] Some beneficiaries of the donations included the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Botanical Gardens, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Yale University. In 2000, the Cullmans donated $10 million to the The Neurosciences Institute.[4] In 2001, they donated $1 million to the Parrish Art Museum to support an additional curator for the organization.[5] In addition to their monetary donations, they also donated several pieces of art to the Museum of Modern Art. On 28 November 2006, a new building built by the Museum of Modern Art was opened, which was named after the Cullmans.[6]
When discussing contributions to the Library for the Performing Arts at the Lincoln Center, Cullman said that funds were given honoring Brooke Astor, "to recognize her enormous contributions to poetry, the library and New York."[7] Dorothy Cullman was responsible for devising what became a humanities center in the library, supported by 15 scholars and annual funding for research.
During her lifetime, she served on the boards of the American Academy in Rome, the American Museum of Natural History, the Enterprise Foundation's New York Committee, the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and the New York Public Library.[8][9] Dorothy Cullman contributed to WNET, supporting several arts-related programs on shows such as Great Performances and American Masters.[9][10] Dorothy Cullman died on 6 April 2009 of a brain injury, prompted by an earlier fall she had suffered.[1][2]
  | Noted benefactors make $10 million Challenge gift to The Neurosciences Institute - Noted benefactors make $10 million Challenge gift to The Neurosciences Institute |
| | A Well-Matched Pair, Giving Money With an Intellectual Fervor - A Well-Matched Pair, Giving Money With an Intellectual Fervor - The New York Times |
| | New research center spotlights history of MoMA's legendary works - New research center spotlights history of MoMA's legendary works - USATODAY.com |
| | $1 Million for Parrish - artnet.com Magazine News |
| | Arts and Education Patron Dorothy Cullman Dies at 91 - Arts and Education Patron Dorothy Cullman Dies at 91 - Philanthropy.com |
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