George E. Jonas
Encyclopedia
George E. Jonas was an American businessman and philanthropist
. He is the founder of the Louis August Jonas Foundation and Camp Rising Sun
, a full scholarship, international summer camp in Red Hook, New York
. Originally for boys aged 14–16, a girls' camp was added in 1989. After Jonas' retirement from business, he devoted the rest of his life to the camp.
hats. The business became very successful and the family became quite wealthy.
Jonas attended the Naval Officers Training School during World War I
and graduated from Columbia College, Columbia University in 1919. He served in the Office of Strategic Services
during World War II
. Jonas worked in his father's business, both in France
and the United States. He was a partner in the Pellessier-Jonas-Rivet Manufacturing Company for many years.
Growing up in privilege and wealth, Jonas was troubled by the advantages he had in comparison to others. Having pondered what he, as a lone individual, could do to help bring some stability and peace to the world, Jonas saw helping youth as the answer. At the age of 32, shortly after the stock market crash
of 1929, Jonas bought a tract of land about 90 miles (144.8 km) north of New York City
, in the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York
. The 167 acre (0.67582562 km²) property had a 200-year old farmhouse and barn that once belonged to Robert Livingston
, the colonial leader.
Jonas established a foundation in memory of his father, who died in 1915, to set up and administer and fund the camp, which was to be tuition-free. The foundation was located in nearby Rhinebeck
.
Pete Seeger
, Jonas originally wanted to call the camp "Rising Son" and make a play on words. Jonas felt that for teenagers to rise in the world, they needed to be exposed to other types of people, so he intentionally invited boys of different backgrounds to his camp. (When Seeger attended the camp, it was in the very early years and campers were all from New York City; the differing backgrounds were religious.)
The camp was eventually named "Camp Rising Sun" and the first campers arrived the following summer, in 1930. The first group consisted of 17 boys, but in later years, the number grew to 60. Jonas interviewed potential campers, looking for disadvantaged boys who nonetheless showed promise. He became fondly known by all as "Freddie", though no one, including Jonas, could recall how the nickname became established.
Jonas continued in the family business till his retirement at the age of 57, at which point he began to devote himself full-time to the business of recruiting boys for the camp. His efforts took him all across the United States and around the world. When recruiting, he would tell boys that the camp was free, but they would be asked to later on pass along the benefits they gained from going to other people. Jonas settled on the qualifying ages for the camp because he felt that the period between ages 14 and 16 was crucial. A child was just coming out of childhood and did not yet possess a lot of prejudice, but had a lot of curiosity. Jonas said, "That's when a person begins trying consciously to shape his own life, to work out a purpose."
Other than Seeger, notable campers include Itamar Rabinovich
, a former Israel
i ambassador to the United States and president of Tel Aviv University
; Neil Leon Rudenstine
, President Emeritus, Harvard University; Dutch politician Dick Dolman
and filmmaker Darren Aronofsky
.
Jonas died in Rhinebeck on August 25, 1978, leaving his fortune to the foundation for continued operation of the camp.
presented Jonas with the Order of Orange-Nassau
, the highest Dutch
award bestowed on a citizen of a foreign nation.
In November 1977, the year before his death, Jonas was awarded the Alexander Hamilton
Medal, the highest award given by his alma mater
to an alumnus or member of the faculty. Other recipients of the award include Lionel Trilling
, Meyer Schapiro
, Dwight D. Eisenhower
, Richard Rodgers
and Oscar Hammerstein
.
The Camp Rising Sun Alumni Association of Denmark created a foundation to operate a European version of CRS and named its foundation after Jonas.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He is the founder of the Louis August Jonas Foundation and Camp Rising Sun
Camp Rising Sun
Camp Rising Sun is an invitation-only, international, full-scholarship, leadership summer program for students aged 14–16. Operated by the Louis August Jonas Foundation , a non-profit organization, the program lasts for seven weeks...
, a full scholarship, international summer camp in Red Hook, New York
Red Hook, New York
Red Hook is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was reported to be 11,319 during the 2010 census. The name is supposedly derived from the red foliage on trees on a small strip of land on the Hudson River. The town contains two villages; the village of Red Hook and the...
. Originally for boys aged 14–16, a girls' camp was added in 1989. After Jonas' retirement from business, he devoted the rest of his life to the camp.
Biography
George Edward Jonas was the son of Louise and Louis August Jonas, who started an international business at the turn of the 20th century making feltFelt
Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing woollen fibres. While some types of felt are very soft, some are tough enough to form construction materials. Felt can be of any colour, and made into any shape or size....
hats. The business became very successful and the family became quite wealthy.
Jonas attended the Naval Officers Training School during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and graduated from Columbia College, Columbia University in 1919. He served in the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Jonas worked in his father's business, both in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United States. He was a partner in the Pellessier-Jonas-Rivet Manufacturing Company for many years.
Growing up in privilege and wealth, Jonas was troubled by the advantages he had in comparison to others. Having pondered what he, as a lone individual, could do to help bring some stability and peace to the world, Jonas saw helping youth as the answer. At the age of 32, shortly after the stock market crash
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
of 1929, Jonas bought a tract of land about 90 miles (144.8 km) north of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. The 167 acre (0.67582562 km²) property had a 200-year old farmhouse and barn that once belonged to Robert Livingston
Robert Livingston the Elder
Robert Livingston the Elder was a New York colonial official, and first lord of Livingston Manor. He married Alida Schuyler in 1679. He was the father of nine children, including Philip, Robert and Gilbert...
, the colonial leader.
Jonas established a foundation in memory of his father, who died in 1915, to set up and administer and fund the camp, which was to be tuition-free. The foundation was located in nearby Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck (village), New York
Rhinebeck is a village located in the Town of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 2,657 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
.
Camp Rising Sun opens
According to camp alumnusAlumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
, Jonas originally wanted to call the camp "Rising Son" and make a play on words. Jonas felt that for teenagers to rise in the world, they needed to be exposed to other types of people, so he intentionally invited boys of different backgrounds to his camp. (When Seeger attended the camp, it was in the very early years and campers were all from New York City; the differing backgrounds were religious.)
The camp was eventually named "Camp Rising Sun" and the first campers arrived the following summer, in 1930. The first group consisted of 17 boys, but in later years, the number grew to 60. Jonas interviewed potential campers, looking for disadvantaged boys who nonetheless showed promise. He became fondly known by all as "Freddie", though no one, including Jonas, could recall how the nickname became established.
Jonas continued in the family business till his retirement at the age of 57, at which point he began to devote himself full-time to the business of recruiting boys for the camp. His efforts took him all across the United States and around the world. When recruiting, he would tell boys that the camp was free, but they would be asked to later on pass along the benefits they gained from going to other people. Jonas settled on the qualifying ages for the camp because he felt that the period between ages 14 and 16 was crucial. A child was just coming out of childhood and did not yet possess a lot of prejudice, but had a lot of curiosity. Jonas said, "That's when a person begins trying consciously to shape his own life, to work out a purpose."
Other than Seeger, notable campers include Itamar Rabinovich
Itamar Rabinovich
- External links :* - an official page on the Israeli Embassy website.* , from Jewish Library.* at the Kennedy School of Government.* , NYU biography.* , Haaretz , November 2, 2007.* , another mini-bio....
, a former Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i ambassador to the United States and president of Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
; Neil Leon Rudenstine
Neil Leon Rudenstine
Neil Leon Rudenstine is an American educator, literary scholar, and administrator. He served as president of Harvard University from 1991 to 2001.-Life and career:...
, President Emeritus, Harvard University; Dutch politician Dick Dolman
Dick Dolman
Dirk Dolman is a Dutch politician. In 1970, he became a member of the Dutch parliament as a member of the Dutch Labor Party . From July 17, 1979 to September 14, 1989 he was the president of the Dutch parliament.- Biography :Dolman was born in Empe, Netherlands...
and filmmaker Darren Aronofsky
Darren Aronofsky
Darren Aronofsky is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer. He attended Harvard University to study film theory and the American Film Institute to study both live-action and animation filmmaking...
.
Jonas died in Rhinebeck on August 25, 1978, leaving his fortune to the foundation for continued operation of the camp.
Jonas' philosophy
I'm much more interested in the man he's going to be than in the boy himself.
The world desperately needs men of good will, men with vision, men who will not be daunted by heavy odds against them. My efforts are, of course, on a small scale but perhaps they can demonstrate what could be done with many camps or schools.
I'm trying to demonstrate that there are a great many young people who don't have much money or who have none, who are bright, and given encouragement and guidance will fill their potential.
I think everybody is reaching for happiness in life. Happiness in life can come from service to God or service to fellow man, or best of all, both. If you just spend all your life just trying to make money, you're not going to be very happy.
Awards
Queen Juliana of the NetherlandsJuliana of the Netherlands
Juliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
presented Jonas with the Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
, the highest Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
award bestowed on a citizen of a foreign nation.
In November 1977, the year before his death, Jonas was awarded the Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
Medal, the highest award given by his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
to an alumnus or member of the faculty. Other recipients of the award include Lionel Trilling
Lionel Trilling
Lionel Trilling was an American literary critic, author, and teacher. With wife Diana Trilling, he was a member of the New York Intellectuals and contributor to the Partisan Review. Although he did not establish a school of literary criticism, he is one of the leading U.S...
, Meyer Schapiro
Meyer Schapiro
Meyer Schapiro was a Lithuanian-born American art historian known for forging new art historical methodologies that incorporated an interdisciplinary approach to the study of works of art...
, Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
and Oscar Hammerstein
Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
.
Legacy
In his lifetime, Jonas worked with over 2,000 boys from 37 countries. Along with the affectionate nickname, Jonas acquired legendary status among the campers, who frequently referred, even decades later, to how he and the camp had changed their lives.The Camp Rising Sun Alumni Association of Denmark created a foundation to operate a European version of CRS and named its foundation after Jonas.