Sandra Atlas Bass, also known as Sandy, is a prominent philanthropist and the owner of the Sol G. Atlas Realty Company. She is also the president of the Sandra Atlas Bass and Edythe and Sol G. Atlas Fund, a charity that supports various causes in the United States and around the world. But how did she accumulate such a fortune and what does she do with it? Here is a brief overview of her net worth, sources of income, and philanthropic activities.
The Legacy of Sol G. Atlas
Sandy is the daughter of Sol G. Atlas, a successful real estate developer who was born in 1907 to Jewish immigrants from Poland. He dropped out of high school and went to work with his father, who owned a small real estate business. He soon became a pioneer in the field, building some of the first shopping centers, office buildings, and apartment complexes in New York and other states. He also bid for Ellis Island in 1959, proposing to turn it into a resort, but was rejected by the government. He partnered with other investors and developers, such as John P. McGrath, David Bonderman, and Richard Rainwater, on numerous projects in Manhattan and elsewhere. He was also a founder of the Inter Council of Shopping Centers and a lecturer at Yale University Law School and the New York Board of Real Estate Appraisers. He was active in various Jewish and civic organizations, such as the United Jewish Appeal, the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, and Yeshiva University, which named him “Man of the Year” in 1969. He died of a stroke in 1973, leaving behind a vast real estate empire and a legacy of innovation and philanthropy. According to Forbes, he was worth $2.8 billion at the time of his death.
The Inheritance and Growth of Sandra Atlas Bass
Sandy inherited her father’s real estate business and wealth, along with her mother, Edythe, who died in 1978. She continued to manage and expand the Sol G. Atlas Realty Company, which is located in Great Neck, New York. The company owns and operates various properties, such as shopping centers, office buildings, and residential complexes, in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and other states. She also invested in other businesses and assets, such as hedge funds, aerospace firms, and ice cream makers. She is also related to the Bass family of Texas, who are also billionaires and descendants of oil tycoon Sid Richardson. Sandy is the cousin of Sid Bass, Edward Bass, Robert Bass, and Lee Bass, who each inherited $2.8 million from their uncle in 1959 and grew it to $10.8 billion as of 2020. Sandy’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, but it is estimated to be in the billions, making her one of the richest women and philanthropists in America.
The Giving of Sandra Atlas Bass
Sandy has been a generous and influential donor to various causes and organizations, especially in the fields of health care, education, and animal welfare. She has worked with more than 400 charitable organizations in the United States and around the world, and hopes her philanthropy inspires others. She said, “Giving is an opportunity to change lives”. Some of her notable gifts and initiatives include:
- She has supported cardiac care at Northwell Health, a health care network in New York, for more than 25 years. She has funded the Sandra Atlas Bass Cardiology Centers at both North Shore and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and the installation of a state-of-the-art CT scanner. She also donated $25 million to support the creation of the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital, which opened in 2017 and is the first and only heart transplant center on Long Island. She also gave another $15 million to support the hospital’s expansion and innovation in 2019. Her lifetime giving to Northwell Health exceeds $93 million.
- She has actively supported the Hearing and Speech Center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, which was rededicated as the Sandra Atlas Bass Otolaryngology Center in honor of her generosity. She also funded the creation of a hearing aid dispensary and a cochlear implant program. She also touched the lives of young patients at Cohen Children’s Medical Center by giving to their cardiac program.
- She helped establish the Sandra Atlas Bass Center for Liver Diseases, which provides comprehensive care and research for patients with liver diseases and disorders. The center is affiliated with Northwell Health and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research.
- She has given millions of dollars to various universities, such as Yale, Stanford, Duke, and Hofstra, to support scholarships, fellowships, research, and facilities. She also supports the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and the American Technion Society.
- She has been a longtime advocate and benefactor of animal welfare and conservation causes, such as the Humane Society of the United States, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the World Wildlife Fund, and the ASPCA. She also supports local animal shelters and rescue groups, such as the North Shore Animal League America, the Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center, and the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. She also funded the creation of the Sandra Atlas Bass and Edythe and Sol G. Atlas Wildlife Sanctuary, a 140-acre refuge for wildlife and domestic animals in Long Island.
Sandra Atlas Bass is a remarkable woman who has used her wealth and influence to make a positive difference in the world. She is a role model for aspiring philanthropists and a testament to the power of giving. She said, “I believe that if you can save one person or one animal, you have begun to save the world”.