BRO_Cooperman_0625.jpg

A Life Of Purpose

Leon And Toby Cooperman’s Extraordinary Generosity Is Transforming Lives In Boca Raton — And Beyond

by

Generosity has defined every chapter of Leon Cooperman’s extraordinary life.

The son of a Polish immigrant, Cooperman was raised in a working-class household in the Bronx, New York, where he attended public school and earned an undergraduate degree from Hunter College, part of the City University of New York system, and later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. Throughout his adult life, he’s made shrewd financial investments for himself and his clients, amassing billions during his 25-year tenure at Goldman Sachs before founding Omega Advisors, Inc. in 1991. In his view, there are four things you can do with money: spend it on material possessions, give it to your children, pay it to the government or donate it to worthy causes.

Cooperman and his wife of more than 60 years, Toby, believe in living modestly and instilled a strong work ethic in their two sons and three grandchildren. Their values have guided them to become one of the most charitable couples Boca Raton — and the nation — has ever seen. By signing Warren Buffett’s The Giving Pledge and Mike Leven’s Jewish Future Promise, they’ve committed to donating their entire fortune to organizations that support education, health care, Jewish life and more.

When the Short Hills, New Jersey, couple first purchased a home in Florida 25 years ago and later became Boca Raton residents in 2012, they noticed a troubling trend: many locals were traveling north for medical care after receiving a serious diagnosis. Determined to change that, they donated $27.8 million to Boca Raton Regional Hospital (BRRH), where the Toby and Leon Cooperman Medical Arts Pavilion now offers clinics, physician offices and access to outpatient procedures performed by leading practitioners in Boca Raton.

“I think integral to any community is having first-class health service,” Cooperman says. “Our giving is stimulated by the desire to avoid feeling the need to go to New York or Miami to get first-class medical treatment. We want the very best right here in Boca.”

The Coopermans’ gift to BRRH is already making a profound difference in the lives of both residents and visitors — and for the couple themselves. They have received care at the facility for orthopedic and neurological conditions and describe the treatment as “outstanding.”

Their efforts to strengthen the region’s health and wellness landscape continue. In April, they donated $500,000 toward a $5 million renovation of the Toby & Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences Boca Raton. Construction, slated to begin in 2026, will modernize the building’s design and enhance the interiors and functionality of the assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing neighborhoods.

The couple also made a $2 million donation to Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services (Rales JFS) to fund the construction of the Toby and Leon Cooperman Therapy & Family Resource Center in Boca Raton. Since opening in 2022, the center has served families raising children with disabilities from birth to age 22, providing more than 8,000 therapy sessions to 250 children in the past year alone — half of whom required financial assistance to access care. This cause is especially close to Toby’s heart. Before retiring in 2013, she spent her career as a learning disabilities specialist at the Early Childhood Learning Center, a school for special education students in Chatham, New Jersey.

Their unwavering generosity has earned them numerous honors over the years. In 2018, Rales JFS presented the Coopermans with the prestigious Humanitarian of the Year Award, recognizing their philanthropy and dedication to uplifting those in need.

In 2021, they made a landmark $100 million donation to Barnabas Medical Center, the largest gift ever received by a New Jersey hospital. In gratitude, the hospital was renamed Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC).

Beyond health care, Cooperman is deeply invested in education and economic opportunity. To help combat income disparity, he established a $50 million fund called Cooperman College Scholars, which is helping 1,000 Essex County, New Jersey, residents pursue higher education. He also continues to support his alma maters, Hunter College and Columbia Business School, through significant donations that open doors for future generations.

Proud of their Jewish faith, passionate about education and devoted to supporting individuals with special needs, the Coopermans extend their generosity across a wide range of causes. Their philanthropy benefits organizations including the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled (JSDD) and United Jewish Appeal (UJA), as well as the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Jespy House, Kindness Matters 365 and Horatio Alger Association.

Among their most heartfelt commitments is their support of Songs of Love Foundation, a nonprofit that writes and records personalized songs for children battling serious illnesses and individuals living with dementia. Cooperman is often spotted proudly wearing a Songs of Love T-shirt, a quiet but meaningful testament to their passion for the cause. As “orchestra leaders” on the board of directors, he and Toby have inspired others to join their efforts, including securing a $1 million matching gift. Over the years, the Coopermans have contributed more than $2 million to the organization, helping to create more than 20,000 custom songs — including nearly 2,000 for children in Boca Raton and the greater South Florida community. They have also pledged an additional $5 million legacy gift to ensure that the music — and the healing it brings — continues well into the future.

“We believe that philanthropy should touch people in a deeply personal way and Songs of Love does exactly that,” Cooperman says. “It’s rare to find a nonprofit with such a direct and immediate emotional impact, and that’s why this mission resonates so strongly with us. It’s been deeply rewarding to know that each of those songs has brought happiness to a child and their family at a moment when they need it most. Knowing that the foundation’s impact reaches our local community makes it all the more personal. These songs are treasured keepsakes that often become part of a family’s healing journey.”

The Coopermans’ reach extends overseas as well. Following the devastating attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, they donated nearly $1.5 million to American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA). Their gift enabled the organization to purchase 13 ambulances in memory of 13 medics killed in the line of duty. AFMDA, staffed by more than 35,000 paramedics, EMTs, first responders, volunteers and support personnel, provides critical first-aid treatment throughout Israel.

At 82, Cooperman remains focused on what lies ahead — not just continuing his philanthropic efforts but also shaping the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

“I’m trying to leave the world a better place than I found it. I’d like my legacy to be I was a good person, I did the right things for people and I lived a good life,” he says.