On Sunday, Nov. 24, Boca West Children’s Foundation announced the passing of founder and Chairman Emeritus Arthur Adler. He was 82 years old.
Born in New York City, Adler was a prominent figure in the media and sports industries for four decades before transitioning into a life of philanthropy at 48. After completing his studies at Brooklyn Law School, Adler worked at his father’s talent agency, later moving to Columbia Records and radio stations in New York City. He later founded a marketing firm, which led to executive roles with the New York Yankees and New York Islanders.
Adler and his family relocated to South Florida in 2004, where his children, then in their late 40s, inspired him to dive into charitable work. In researching local communities, he discovered the challenges faced by at-risk youth in Palm Beach County. He shared with Boca/Delray Lifestyle magazine in 2017: “It took my breath away knowing kids were going to bed hungry and sleeping on floors and feeling unsafe in their own homes.”
This awakening fueled his passion to make a lasting impact, leading to founding the Boca West Children’s Foundation in 2010. Since then, the foundation has focused on funding initiatives to support at-risk children and their families across Boca Raton and Palm Beach County, raising over $18 million and positively impacting more than 9,000 children to date.
Adler’s commitment to philanthropy extended beyond the foundation. He was actively involved in nearly every major children’s charity in the region, including the Fuller Center, Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Boca Helping Hands, Bikes for Tykes and Boys & Girls Club, to name a few. His generosity extended to Boca Raton Regional Hospital, supporting medical services, specialized care and innovative health care programs.
Adler’s efforts were also felt in the cultural and educational landscape. He contributed significantly to local arts initiatives, helping to fund arts education programs and cultural institutions in the community, ensuring that access to the arts remained a priority for future generations. Notably, he served as a Florida Atlantic University’s Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars board member, supporting and financing students through higher education.
In an interview with Simply The Best Magazine in March, Adler reflected: “I made sure my programs will be around forever. This will be my legacy, what I would like to be remembered for: that is, for doing whatever possible to feed and educate children at risk.”
In 2019, Adler was inducted into the Boca Raton Historical Society’s Walk of Recognition, a tribute to his lasting impact on the community.
Arthur Adler