Business Expert and Philanthropist – Beny Steinmetz
Beny Steinmetz is a veteran businessman and an active philanthropist. Beny Steinmetz, the Israeli entrepreneur, with a focus in the mining and energy sectors, while being also active in the real estate and diamond-mining industries, is an advisor to BSGR, a private group involved with capital markets, natural resources and real estate around the world. He is also the chairman and co-founder of the philanthropic trust, Agnes & Beny Steinmetz Foundation and is actively involved in the art world in Israel.
Early Career
At the age of 21, he joined the family business after completing his three-year compulsory military service in the IDF. At the end of his military service, he spent his free time in the family offices learning all the “secrets” of his father’s profession. The need for international expansion was tremendous in the late 70’s and young Beny was the right man for the mission. He immediately moved and settled in Antwerp, Belgium in the place where everything started, to build up the international operations of the diamond family business. Using his sharp instincts and a healthy passion for success, his company grew over the years to become one of the leading brands in the diamond industry. Throughout this time Beny Steinmetz’s diamond business has had, and still has, a good commercial relationship with the diamond business that was initiated by his father, the Rubin Steinmetz and Sons Diamond Company.
Philanthropy – The Agnes and Beny Steinmetz Foundation
Beny conducts his philanthropic activities through the Steinmetz Foundation, an organization that aims to provide the children and youth of Israel with opportunities for a brighter future.
Beny Steinmetz and his wife Agnes had a strong desire to create positive change in Israeli society. They were involved with several charitable causes and were particularly interested in helping the younger generations. The couple made the decision to start the foundation in 2006 and focused on the wellbeing and educational needs of children and youth at risk. In launching the Foundation, Beny and Agnes could consolidate their private efforts into a more formal grant-making process.
Foundation Objectives
The main objective of the Steinmetz Foundation is to reach out to children who live below the poverty line during their formative years. The aim is to substantially lower the likelihood of unfavorable social outcomes by increasing access to opportunities and services.
Activities
The Foundation delivers a variety of programs in collaboration with municipalities and cities all over Israel. Funding is provided to municipalities for special facilities that support early childhood, and initiatives aimed at helping vulnerable young people are implemented. Educational programs for children are sponsored at the Netenya Academic College. The Foundation also funds programs that develop community awareness of the importance of professional teacher training and the importance of childhood development in the early years.
Achievements
By supporting education, welfare, and health programs for children from a young age until college, the Foundation has made substantial achievements, particularly in taking care of the basic and educational needs of children at risk. The backbone of the network is made up of the 20 early childhood centers built by the Foundation. Funded programs have supported 40,000 children and provided 3,500 staff members with training and further education. More than 7,000 parents have been reached through various projects. Early childhood outreach programs at municipalities have been built and strengthened, and local service providers have been up-skilled to ensure that there are qualified early childhood specialists available to manage every municipality and city.
Acknowledgement for Supporting the Arts
As an avid fan of the arts and a strong supporter of artistic initiatives Beny Steinmetz has been particularly supportive of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. He is a Trustee on the museum’s board and is actively involved with helping the Museum grow. In recognition of his outstanding efforts, Beny was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa by the museum. He also achieved an honorary title in acknowledgement of his support of the Netanya Academic College.
