Dorothy Cullman
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Cullman 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
.
, New York
, she was the daughter of William and Lois Freedman. In her early years, she modeled for Saks Fifth Avenue
, and studied drama. 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. 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.
, science
, and education
. 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. In 2001, they donated $1 million to the Parrish Art Museum
to support an additional curator for the organization. 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.
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." 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. Dorothy Cullman contributed to WNET
, supporting several arts-related programs on shows such as Great Performances
and American Masters
. Dorothy Cullman died on 6 April 2009 of a brain injury, prompted by an earlier fall she had suffered.
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
.
Early life
Born Dorothy Freedman in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, she was the daughter of William and Lois Freedman. In her early years, she modeled for Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
, and studied drama. She attended Rollins College
Rollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
in the 1930s for two years. After attending college, she returned to New York where she married Charles Benenson
Charles Benenson
Charles B. Benenson was an American real estate broker.Benenson Realty Co. was founded by his father Benjamin Benenson in 1905 and grew into an industry leader under his guidance, until his death in 1938....
in 1942. 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
World Federation for Mental Health
The World Federation for Mental Health is an international membership organization founded in 1948 to advance, among all peoples and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health. Members...
when they met.
Philanthropy
The Cullmans donated a combined $250 million to a number of organizations in support of the artsThe arts
The arts are a vast subdivision of culture, composed of many creative endeavors and disciplines. It is a broader term than "art", which as a description of a field usually means only the visual arts. The arts encompass visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts – music, theatre, dance and...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
. Some beneficiaries of the donations included the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, the New York Botanical Gardens, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. In 2000, the Cullmans donated $10 million to the The Neurosciences Institute. In 2001, they donated $1 million to the Parrish Art Museum
Parrish Art Museum
The Parrish Art Museum is the oldest cultural institution on the East End of Long Island, uniquely situated within one of the most concentrated creative communities in the United States...
to support an additional curator for the organization. In addition to their monetary donations, they also donated several pieces of art to the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
. On 28 November 2006, a new building built by the Museum of Modern Art was opened, which was named after the Cullmans.
When discussing contributions to the Library for the Performing Arts
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
at the Lincoln Center, Cullman said that funds were given honoring Brooke Astor
Brooke Astor
Roberta Brooke Astor was an American philanthropist and socialite who was the chairwoman of the Vincent Astor Foundation, which had been established by her third husband, Vincent Astor, son of John Jacob Astor IV and great-great grandson of America's first multi-millionaire, John Jacob...
, "to recognize her enormous contributions to poetry, the library and New York." 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. Dorothy Cullman contributed to WNET
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
, supporting several arts-related programs on shows such as Great Performances
Great Performances
Great Performances, a television series devoted to the performing arts, has been telecast on Public Broadcasting Service public television since 1972...
and American Masters
American Masters
American Masters is a PBS television show which produces biographies on the artists, actors and writers of the United States who have left a profound impact on the nation's popular culture. It is produced by WNET in New York City...
. Dorothy Cullman died on 6 April 2009 of a brain injury, prompted by an earlier fall she had suffered.
External links
- Lewis B. Cullman's Website
- Dorothy Cullman on the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...