In the summer of 1940, the Mandel brothers – Jack, Joseph and Morton – started their business born from the small auto parts company they had purchased from their Uncle Jacob for $900. Premier Automotive Supply began as a small venture that they gradually and assiduously built into a highly successful worldwide company.
Just one decade later, the brothers established their first foundation in 1953. Their philanthropic legacy is continued through the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation. The work of the Foundations is grounded in the belief that exceptional leaders, inspired by powerful ideas, are key to improving society and the lives of people around the world. It’s the Foundation’s belief that the arts and humanities play a central role in developing exceptional leaders.
“We are great believers in the humanities and the arts and what they do to advance society,” says Steve Hoffman, chairman of the Mandel Foundation. “We are pleased to have the resources to encourage people in these fields, and the Cleveland Arts Prize is one way of recognizing the importance of the arts to all of us.”
The Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Arts Prize awarded the foundation the prestigious Barbara S. Robinson Prize for the Advancement of the Arts. The prize recognizes the Mandel Foundation’s extraordinary dedication to strengthening Northeast Ohio’s cultural landscape, in perfect alignment with Mrs. Robinson, a tireless arts advocate, civic leader and champion of artistic excellence.
“We are deeply honored to receive the Cleveland Arts Prize, especially knowing that it reflects the Mandel brothers’ longstanding commitment to advancing the arts, the humanities, and the city of Cleveland,” says Jehuda Reinharz, president and CEO of the Mandel Foundation. “To be recognized in this way affirms that we have remained true to their vision and our mission of expanding access to the humanities in Greater Cleveland.”
Over the years, the Mandel Foundation has made extraordinary investments in the region’s arts and cultural institutions, with just a few including:
- Major support for The Cleveland Orchestra, helping to sustain and expand its world-class programming and outreach, supporting the creation of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Opera and Humanities Festival, and enhancing local and global audience engagement through upgrades to digital production and streaming capabilities.
- Generous funding to the Cleveland Museum of Art, expanding access, exhibitions, and community engagement as well as updating and renaming the Armor Court to the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Armor Court.
- A 2024 challenge grant to Cleveland Public Theatre to help transform its Gordon Square campus into a more functional and accessible community arts hub.
- Transformational gifts to the Cleveland Institute of Art to establish the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Atrium, provide annual support for its curriculum and remove financial barriers through the Mandel Leadership Scholarship program.
- Ongoing support for local community arts initiatives, including placemaking murals along East 72nd Street commissioned by LAND studio and the CLEVELAND WALLS! mural program organized by MidTown Cleveland.
“The Cleveland Arts Prize Board of Trustees is thrilled to honor the Mandel Foundation with the Barbara S. Robinson Prize,” said Kurt Karakul, board co-chair for the Cleveland Arts Prize. “Their impact on the cultural vitality of Northeast Ohio has been nothing short of transformational, embodying the very values Barbara stood for—leadership, vision, and an unwavering belief in the power of the arts to enrich lives and communities.”
According to the Mandel Foundation’s guiding philosophy, engaging with the humanities—art, literature, music, ethics, and philosophy—greatly enhances the capacity of leaders and citizens to envision and create a better future. Exposure to the humanities expands an individual’s knowledge of their heritage and other cultures, nurtures the capacity for empathy, and encourages deeper critical thinking, imagination, and communication skills.
The Mandel Foundation’s visionary giving mirrors the deep commitment Barbara Robinson showed throughout her life—believing that the arts are essential to a thriving, equitable society. Like Robinson, the Foundation has not only elevated artistic excellence but also championed access, equity, and civic vibrancy.
“We know that engaging with the arts greatly enhances the capacity of individuals and leaders to build a just and compassionate world,” says Dr. Reinharz. “We are grateful to the Cleveland Arts Prize Board and leadership team for this honor and their dedication to celebrating and uplifting the arts in Greater Cleveland.”