August 29, 2007
Hotel Mogul Leaves Billions to Charitable Trust
By Maria DiMento
In what could well be one of the most-generous bequests of the decade, Leona M. Helmsley has left much of her estate — worth billions of dollars — to a charitable trust.
Ms. Helmsley, head of the Helmsley Hotel Chain, died this month of heart failure. Her estate has been estimated to be worth between $4-billion and $8-billion.
While she had a reputation among her hotel employees for having a terrifying temper, Ms. Helmsley apparently had a charitable side: Through her will, she directed that all of her assets, including cash from the sale of her homes and other property, be given to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Ms. Helmsley created the trust in 1999, according to the will. She does not name any nonprofit groups or specific causes as beneficiaries.
Gifts that Ms. Helmsley made during her lifetime included a total of $70-million to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and $5-million to the American Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In her will, Ms. Helmsley also left approximately $35-million to family members, including $3-million for the upkeep of the mausoleum where she and her late husband, Harry B. Helmsley, are buried, and $12-million to a trust for her dog, Trouble.
A copy of the will, which was signed in July 2005, is posted on the Web site of the New York Daily News.
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I tried looking for the website of the charitable trust. I could not find it.
— Scott Smith Aug 29, 03:36 PM #
My non-profit group is opening a student center in Chester, pa and we are looking for grants. Does anyone know how to apply to the Helmsley Trust?
— Erica Weihermuller Aug 29, 03:47 PM #
So who’s the trustee of the Foundation?
— Wondering Aug 29, 05:08 PM #
I would be interested in seeing the lists of donations made by the trust as I believe Leona Helmsley was avery generous lady and there is not enough told of her generousity
— Lois Wilgoren Aug 29, 08:16 PM #
LEONA AND HARRY B HELMSLEY FOUNDATION INC
230 PARK AVE
NEW YORK, NY 10169-0005
— J. Hayes Aug 29, 10:49 PM #
I believe that the non profit community owes a debt to Ms. Helmsley and should do what we can to repay her generousity by doing what we can “clear” her name as the “Queen of Mean”. She,like all of us, was multidimentional. Through this bequest she will do much good for generations to come.
— K Catino Aug 30, 04:20 AM #
Please advice where our non profit foundation can apply for a grant from Mrs Helmsley foundation. Thank you.
Sonia Paz Baron-Vine
President
Mellowswan Foundation
— Sonia Paz Baron-Vine Aug 30, 01:34 PM #
Trouble, Leona’s Helmsley’s dog has written a letter to the house staff concerning her windfall (posted on Animal Internet)
http://www.animal-internet.com/Content/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=872
— Billiam Aug 30, 08:59 PM #
Please advice how our non profit foundation can apply for grant from Mrs. Helmsley Foundation, This is to keep the youth off the streets and continue to study, stop the gangs. Thank you
— LYDIA CHAVEZ Aug 31, 02:09 PM #
I am the Executive director of a non-profit professional Counseling and Learning Center. We are located in the City of San Fernando, in S. California. Our target population are low to middle income people primarily Latino. I am very interested in applying to the Helmsley Foundation for a grant – either for progams or to offset an unanticiipated debt of $2.5m on a new building which occurred. The cost skyocketed from $2.8m to $5m throughout hurricane Katriona. Thank you
— Carmel Somers Sep 1, 06:14 PM #
I worked at the Hospital for Special Surgery when Mr. Helmsley was being treated at NY Hospital. Mrs. Helmsley was a superb patient advocate for her husband. She donated a huge amount of money to New York Hospital and I’m mildly disgusted that her generosity is being overlooked by sensational headline writers and the dog she loved.
— Arlene Herring Sep 3, 11:37 AM #
Hi Huey here
dear foundation . I to am nonprofit and looking for a grant to help with teaching the handicap to ride horses .
— Huey Howard Sep 4, 09:33 PM #
I’m still trying to get infomation about the grants , thanks
— Huey Howard Sep 8, 10:42 PM #