If a gene for philanthropy exists, Barry Skolnick, 69, was born with it. Growing up in a family that valued hard work and giving back, the Miami Beach resident and current chairman of the Board of Trustees at Mount Sinai Medical Center learned early on that with success comes the responsibility to help others. When his father’s business prospered, the family established a foundation, immersing Skolnick in a tradition of service at a young age. After his parents died, he assumed leadership, renaming it the Skolnick Family Charitable Trust in their honor and expanding its mission and impact.
“Legacy comes from what you do with it,” Skolnick says. “For me, that means supporting causes that will outlast me and continue to change lives for the better.”
Education was the trust’s initial focus, reflecting his family’s priorities, but Skolnick later broadened its reach to health care, science and the arts, among other worthy causes. After moving full-time to Miami Beach, he became involved with Mount Sinai Medical Center, serving in various roles before becoming chairman in 2023. He has been central to fundraising efforts and developing state-of-the-art facilities, most notably the Skolnick Surgical Tower, which opened in 2019 and reflects Skolnick’s vision for modern health care — combining advanced technology, leading physicians and a healing environment. In 2026, the Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center will open, continuing Skolnick’s legacy of progress. Under his leadership, Mount Sinai has broken fundraising records and strengthened its reputation for world-class care.
Beyond philanthropy, Skolnick has excelled in the manufacturing and real estate sectors throughout his career, while also pursuing his twin passions of art and automobiles. These interests culminated in the creation of Iconick, his private Miami museum. The 50,000-square-foot campus houses a multimillion-dollar collection of contemporary art and nearly 200 high-performance cars, with dedicated galleries for Ferrari, Porsche and other rare and highly coveted vehicles.
Though he describes himself as a workaholic, Skolnick is planning to step back gradually to enjoy more time with family, art and cars, while continuing to support causes close to his heart. For him, philanthropy is not only a responsibility but also a privilege.