For Jean Shafiroff, giving back while serving looks has become an art form
Her love of giving knows no bounds. Those are the seven words in-the-know New Yorkers would use to describe philanthropist Jean Shafiroff. As Elise McCabe Thompson, president of the New York Mission Society, noted, “When it comes to giving, Jean Shafiroff leads the pack.”
Shafiroff not only sits on the board of the New York Mission Society but seven other organizations as well. An impressive number, given the commitment that each takes.
“[Jean] sets forth a path for philanthropists, new and old, to reflect on their values and discover their own philanthropic identity,” said Ana Oliveira, president and CEO of the New York Women’s Foundation.
In a city as competitive as New York, words of flattery do not often abound to this degree. Yet, for Shafiroff, they do — for a good reason.
“Jean epitomizes the values of a true philanthropist,” said Elizabeth F. Stribling, chairman of the French Heritage Society. “She is generous, caring, concerned and determined.”
But to understand Shafiroff as a philanthropist, it’s first essential to recognize her as a woman. She not only raises a significant amount of money annually as a spokesperson and gala visionary for the charitable causes in which she believes but also she gives generously as well. It may appear a nuance, but it is far from it. Shafiroff walks the walk. Sure, she makes monetary donations buying tables, hosting parties at the homes she shares with her husband, Martin, and raising funds at a tireless clip. But she volunteers her time and knowledge as well as writing checks. That’s the point of differentiation that sets Shafiroff apart from her peers.
She holds two degrees from Columbia University, an MBA, which gives her financial knowledge, and an undergraduate degree in physical therapy that explains her deep compassion. Hence, the words “time” and “knowledge” that she always returns to; she has both.
“We were put here on this earth to learn, to grow and to give,” she said. “We must make opportunities available to people so that we can improve their future.”
Shafiroff channeled this passion into a book on the art of giving. In “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give,” she empowers emerging and existing philanthropists to build a better world. It’s a guidebook not only on how to give but how to give greatly with our hearts and our wallets. She shares her experiences and challenges with finding the time to give and why it’s imperative.
“Giving energizes us and those around us,” she shared. “There’s nothing more gratifying than the feeling of helping someone else. It elevates us out of our own concerns and takes us to a place where we feel a profound connection to the value of life.”
The book takes Shafiroff’s experiences with sitting on various charitable boards and serving as an ambassador for the American Humane Society and the Southampton Animal Shelter. Shafiroff believes wholeheartedly that we reach self-fulfillment and find the meaning of life through the art of giving. And several nonprofits agree with her enlightenment, as she has been honored by the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, among others.
From countless cover stories to full-length features on Shafiroff’s philanthropic activity, there is always one thing to note other than her sheer generosity: she always looks stylish. Her calendar is brimming with benefits, but she hits the mark every time.
It would be difficult to argue that she isn’t a philanthropic-style icon. Shafiroff’s collection spans the likes of Chanel and Gucci to Carolina Herrera and Zac Posen. This adoration of fashion has earned her a coveted seat on the board of the Couture Council at the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology. She supports emerging designers and proudly donates her pieces for the students to see.
With Shafiroff, one thing is clear: there’s integrity in all that she does as she has a deep love of the work she was put here on earth to do.
“As a philanthropist, you write your own story of giving that unfolds over a lifetime,” she said. “Any and all efforts we make to look past our own lives — to meet the struggles that others face head-on — to make the world a better place broadens our perspectives and gives us a new appreciation for the power we have to change things.”
