The late Ted Arison, together with his daughter Shari Arison, established The Ted Arison Family Foundation in Miami in 1981, expressing the philanthropic viewpoint of a personal inner moral edict that a person must give back to society and the community in which they live – “Where you live and thrive, you must give back.”
In 1993, the foundation launched its activities in Israel under Shari Arison’s management, and has since invested more than $522 million (NIS 2 billion). in social causes and to some 1,800 organizations and nonprofits.
The foundation’s story
1882The Arison family’s roots in Isreal begin with the first group of immigrants from Romania, arriving in Israel and settling in Zamarin, today’s Zichron Ya’acov, including Moshe and Sarah Arisohn, Ted’s grandparents.
1917Meir Dizengoff, Tel Aviv’s mayor, arrives in Zichron Ya’akoc, and meets Meir Arisohn (Ted’s father) who was then an officer in the Ottoman army. He saves Dizengoff from the Turkish rulers who wanted to arrest him, and a strong friendship is forged between the two. This evolved into a business partnership in the shipping company “M. Dizengoff & Co.”, and together they also contributed the first seed money for the Tel Aviv Museum Art Library. In 1923 Meir Arisohn married Vera Avrotin, and they had three children, Ted, Aviva, and Rina.
1948In the War of Independence, Ted Arison serves as a division’s Communications Officer, and is later asked to build the Armored Corps Communications Division. In 1952, Ted completed his military service and marries Mina Wasserman. After his first boy, Micky, was born, the family moved to New York, where Shari Arison was born. In 1966 the family moved to Miami, and in 1967 Ted remarried to Lin.
1972Inauguratory sailing of the first Carnival Cruise Lines ship, Mardi Gras. Carnival, that was established by Ted, and run by his son Micky, is the largest cruise company in the world.
1981Ted Arison supports the building of the Tel Aviv Conservatory of Music, in his and Lin Arison’s name. Ted establishes the foundation in Miami, and together with Lin they establish the NFAA. In 1987, Shar Arison is named President of the foundation in Miami. Together with the composer Michael Tilson Thomas Ted and Lin establish the New World Symphony, which also serves as an orchestral academy, and an educational center for talented young musicians.
1993After Ted Arison and his daughter returned to Israel in 1991, Arison Investments is established as the business arm of the Arison family. Shari is named Chairman of The Ted Arison Family Foundation and she creates it operational framework, after thoroughly traveling across the country to personally learn and understand the needs of the community and to expand its activities. The first project she led was the Arison Neurobiology Building, Weizmann Institute of Science. The foundation also contributed to creating the Armored Crops memorial site in Latrun.
1997The first cornerstone was placed for the construction of the Ted Arison Medical Tower (Ichilov Hospital), in the presence of the Prime Minister of Israel and Ted Arison.
1999The was First Aliyah Museum was opened to the public, named after Moshe and Sarah Arisohn, established in the historical administrative building in Zichron Ya’acov. During this year, Ted Arison passes away.
2000The Arison Campus of the Arts opens in Tel Aviv, through a joint investment made by the family foundation and the Tel Aviv Development Fund.
2001The public benefit organization Essence of Life is established, which operates to enlighten and raise awareness for attaining inner peace and social peace, through a wide variety of channels and programs.
2002The Ted Arison Medical Tower opens in Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv, built with contributions made by the family foundation.
2003The foundation partners with the initiative Ruach Tova (Hebrew for Good Spirit), a nonprofit that matches between thousands of volunteers that seek to give of their time and skill, with those who seek assistance. The foundation’s name was changed to The Ted Arison Family Foundation, and Jason Arison is appointed VP Chairman, while also joining the executive board of the foundation and its grant committee, together with his brother David and sister Cassie.
2005The Yitzhak Rabin Center is launched in Tel Aviv, in the presence of President Clinton, Hilary Clinton, and the Prime Minister of Israel. The foundation’s contribution was instrumental in completing the project on time.
2006An additional contribution made to the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya (IDC), to open the Awareness Communication Center, while also marking the foundation’s celebratory 13th year of operation.
2007Good Deeds Day, initiated by Shari Arison, is launched in Israel, and it has since grown to become an international tradition of doing good across the globe.
2010The family foundation extended special assistance to the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF).
2011The Tel Aviv Museum Art Library is opened in its new location with the help of the foundation. The first seed money for opening this library was given by Ted Arison’s father, Meir Arisohn, in 1917, together with the Tel Aviv’s first mayor, Meir Dizengoff. This year, the digital platform for doing good, Goodnet, is also launched, initiated by Shari Arison.
2012The foundation’s chairman Jason Arison, creates the new residence program ArtPort Tel Aviv at the Center for Young Art, as the new artistic arena for emerging artists, also serving as a significant meeting point between art and the community.