The Diverse Charitable Activities of the Friars Club
A resident of New Jersey for many years, Harvey Bell is a community involved professional. Harvey Bell is affiliated with the Friars Club, a storied organization in midtown Manhattan that counts celebrities, comedians, and business executives among its members.
One vital aspect of the organization is its community commitment, with the Friars Foundation focused on bettering society, with an emphasis on the performing arts. Three-fourths of its grants are provided as scholarships to students involved in performing arts activities, as well as groups in that discipline. The remainder of the money is provided to nonprofits that assist the less fortunate.
Another part of the Friars Foundation philanthropic emphasis is the Sunshine Committee, which has been offering “entertainment and companionship” to disadvantaged children and the elderly across the New York region for almost half a century. During the holiday season the committee sponsors the anticipated Christmas/Hanukkah Spectacular, which includes a Santa toy giveaway and free movie screenings.
Yet another longstanding charitable initiative is the Adopt-A-Scholar program, which provides four-year scholarships to recipients who have studied in the performing arts and pursued careers in film, on Broadway, and in regional theater. In all, more than 360 recipients have benefited from this program over the years as they moved toward careers as actors, dancers, and musicians.
