Introduction

A Brief Introduction
and History

History Of The
Kempner Family

In characterizing his parents’ legacy, Isaac (Ike) Herbert Kempner wrote the following in his Recalled Recollections: “We can be thankful for the larger vision of our parents which bid us try to emulate their wisdom, their benevolence, their reverence for God and devotion to their country.”

History Of The
Fund

The impetus for starting a foundation in 1946 came from the family’s concern for the many local charities they supported. They realized that conditions that typically follow economic depressions and wars could affect their ability to support charities in time of greatest need. A philanthropic philosophy thus evolved.