In recent news from the Riverdale Country School in New York City, the Middle School students recently gathered to discuss diversity. While watching the ABC show “What Would You Do?” they were asked to think about issues of race, body image, sexual orientation and ethnicity.
Witnesses are tested, in these clips, to think about what they would do in similar situations. After watching the clips, the students returned to their classrooms to discuss what they had seen in small groups.
This is one of the many examples of programming that Riverdale Country School does to keep their students considering the feelings of others and examining their place in the larger, diverse community. The Board of Trustees, including Gregg Hymowitz, certainly encourages this type of interaction and communication for community building.
Gregg Hymowitz, as a Managing Partner at EnTrust Capital, has the privilege to work with many capable financial leaders. One such leader is Michael E. Horowitz, a Principal of EnTrust Capital and a past Managing Partner. He was one of the people who formed EnTrust and he is a member of the EnTrust Capital Diversified Fund Investment Committee.
Prior to his time at EnTrust, he was a Vice President at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Horowitz holds a BA from Brooklyn College and an MBA from the University of Chicago. In his spare time, he is the Chairman of the investment committee at Vermont Academy and he serves as a National Commissioner for the Anti-Defamation League.
Several speakers took the podium at the recent BALCONY breakfast to discuss, “Wall Street and the New York Economy: One Year After.” It has been one year since the U.S. economy faltered and collapsed, and now economists and government analysts met to discuss the aftermath and expectations for the future.
Several speakers took an optimistic perspective. New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was able to report the glad tidings that the pension fund of New York State has recovered, and showed an 18% profit as of September 2009. The main lesson DiNapoli has taken from the crisis is the importance of diversity and that it was incorrect to rely on the tax revenue from “Wall Street” to maintain a healthy economy.
Gregg Hymowitz of Entrust Capital was not as optimistic. His forecast for the future was a bit less sunny unless very aggressive action was taken soon to improve the economy. There are many issues still unresolved such as pension relief, unemployment, no national industrial policy, tax reform, and a dire need for there to be more regulation controlling the activities in the financial sector of our economy.
NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli
On December 4, 2009 Gregg Hymowitz appeared on a discussion panel sponsored by the Business and Labor Coalition of New York, known as BALCONY. The breakfast forum discussed “Wall Street and the New York Economy One Year After…”
Held at the Hard Rock Café on 43rd Street and Broadway in Manhattan, featured speakers included Thomas P. DiNapoli, the New York State Comptroller; John C. Liu, New York City Comptroller-Elect; and a panel which included, in addition to Gregg Hymowitz , Bruce Ventimiglia, Barry Weprin, Alan Handel and many other prominent experts on economics, investment, and government.
Opening the discussion was Bill Ayres, the Executive Director and co-founder (along with singer Harry Chapin who has since passed away) of WHY (World Hunger Year.) Ayres was there to remind the participants that there are people right here in America that are hungry, with far less by way of assets or capital than anyone in the room. Ayres mad an appeal for their support, explaining that despite everyone’s legitimate concern about the present state of the economy, it is “an obscenity” that there is hunger in America. Not only does WHY help people to find their own way to support themselves and alleviate hunger here in America, but worldwide as well.
Listen and watch the following video featuring Gregg Hymowitz discussing the debt crisis and over-leverage in the world economy. Gregg Hymowitz is the Managing Partner of Entrust Capital. In this video, Mr. Hymowitz discusses the depth of the debt crisis in the context of a New York forum sponsored by BALCONY- the Business and Labor Coalition of New York.
For a beautiful place to board and enjoy horses, few locations compare to Rose Hill Farm. Operated by Gregg Hymowitz, 
has an indoor and outdoor arena with all-weather footing. It also has train hunters and jumpers, 12 turnout paddocks and two hunt courses.
Each summer, Rose Hill Farm offers a great camp program as well for kids. The camp is headed by Emily Wintjen and is instructed by Phyllis Kane and Kate Wilkinson. This year a number of riders from the farm will be competing at the Hampton Classic. This serves as an exciting finale of the summer and a wonderful experience for the kids who train hard all summer.
The first New York Knicks Poetry Slam event for the 2009-2010 series showed a large showing from the University of Wisconsin. They opened the day in November with a performance by a few poets from their new “First Wave” program at the school. These poets were all winners from the 2007 or 2008 Poetry Slams who won scholarships to UW’s First Wave. This is the world’s first college hip-hop and slam program!
Their performances were amazing and the energy in the room was felt by all. Thanks to the sponsors of these great poetry slams, including Gregg Hymowitz and the Hymowitz Foundation for helping kids to see the value of the spoken word and the importance of education!
It’s time to get slamming and get ready for the Annual Teen Poetry Slam. This amazing series of poetry contests is partly sponsored by the Hymowitz Foundation, with Gregg Hymowitz and is set this year to see over 500 of New York City’s young talents.
In November, the New York Knicks and the other sponsors, such as Gregg Hymowitz, hosted their first 2009 Poetry Slam event. Young poets had the chance to audition for the semi-finals which will be in January. Awards will include full tuition scholarships to the University of Wisconsin and Mercy College, along with $3000 worth of other scholarships and grants.
As part of the Board of Trustees of the Riverdale Country School in New York City, Greg Hymowitz dedicates his time to create the best school environment possible for his daughters and for the other 1000 plus children who attend the school. Riverdale has a deeply entrenched belief in teaching ethics and values.
One example of this belief is exhibited with their C.A.R.E. program, which stands for Children Aware of Riverdale Ethics. From their earliest days at Riverdale in middle school, through the end of their high school careers, all Riverdale students participate in this program, while also fulfilling their Community Service requirements. They learn about the importance of carrying for others and of helping others both inside, and beyond, the school environment.
As the managing partner of EnTrust, Greg Hymowitz is actively involved in community service endeavors as well. As part of the 2009-2010 Board of Trustees for the Riverdale Country School in New York City, Mr. Hymowitz works to maintain the guiding principles that make this school a unique learning environment.
Riverdale ha s ambitious goals which include preparing students for both competition and cooperation while fostering respect in each student for his community and for his fellow students. The school emphasizes trust, honesty and mutual support while teaching a liberal arts education.
The founder, Frank S. Hackett, started Riverdale to create a school to offer students “scholarly, intimate teaching, a care for the best influences, and abundant play in the out of doors.” The Board of Trustees, including Greg Hymowitz, certainly work to abide by these principles and to create the best learning environment possible for the students at this prestigious school.
