Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Shafiroff.
Jean, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I believe my inspiration to become a philanthropist started with my father, a music teacher who attended The Juilliard School and later went on to earn a master’s in teaching at Columbia Teachers University. He would arrive home after a long and strenuous day of work and always make time to be with his family, spend time with loved ones, and most importantly, give to those in need.
I also attended Catholic school for 12 years, where the nuns significantly taught me the importance of giving back. But all religions teach the importance of giving back. I then went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After receiving my undergrad degree, I worked at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City. I worked mainly with people struggling with physical illnesses and who lived below the poverty level. I then decided to go back to school for more education, so I returned to the graduate school of business at Columbia University. After graduating, I went on to work on Wall Street. But, with the thrill of obtaining a high-profile job on Wall Street did come long hours. Some nights I would find myself working until 10:00 pm.
My husband, Martin Shafiroff, and I realized that my long hours affected raising my children and spending quality time with them, which is important to me. My husband and I mutually decided it would be in the best interest of my kids, family, and me that I gave up my career. But I did not give up working altogether! I got involved in my children’s schools. I was a class mother, and then I got involved in the annual fund of The DaltonsSchools to raise money. In addition, I slowly started to join charity boards, parent and student-teacher board meetings, running and organizing fundraisers, and much more. I like to say that was the start of my career as a philanthropist.
A true philanthropist is not how you can use your platform to share your stories; it’s about how you can be helpful. It’s not anything about you. I am a public person, so I believe in spreading the word and fully promoting the organization’s mission. It’s about how you can use your platform to share the stories of others. That’s a true philanthropist in my eyes.
A few years back, I wrote and published the book Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give to inspire others to give back. I wrote the book to inspire others to engage in the philanthropic process and serve as a practical guide to giving. In addition, I host the TV show Successful Philanthropy, which airs several times a week in East Hampton and South Hampton. It also airs in New York City each Saturday at 8:30 pm EST.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was important for me to graduate from college and graduate school with degrees that would enable me to work and support myself. With that tough came a lot of pressure and scarifies. I studied very hard, often even on weekend nights, and to this day, I still work hard to get to where I want to be.
I questioned myself a lot, ‘would I be successful one day?’. What got me through that was believing in myself. If you don’t believe in yourself, that will always be your most considerable struggle. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because you can!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My areas of focus are women’s rights, rights of the underserved, animal rights, and healthcare. Most recently, I have been advocating food insecurity and LGBTQ+ rights.
I serve on several charity boards, including the American Humane, New York City Mission Society, Southampton Hospital Association, New York Women’s Foundation, French Heritage Society, Couture Council (Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology), Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Honorary Board, and Global Strays.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are so many mentors and supporters of mine, but my most incredible supporters were my parents and teachers. They really supported me along the way, believed in me, and encouraged me to become a philanthropist.
I like to give credit to others; it’s what I do! That is also why I started my TV show Successful Philanthropy, which focuses on promoting other philanthropists. I wrote my book Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give to inspire others to give back and to serve as a practical guide to giving.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@jeanshafiroff.com
- Website: http://jeanshafiroff.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanshafiroff/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jean.shafiroff
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanShafiroff
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoPUT563uFg
Image Credits
Jean with puppy: Photo Credit Michael Paniccia Jean Serving Food at New York Mission Society: Photo Credit Patrick McMullan/PMC Jean Holding Kitten at Southampton Animal Shelter_Photo Credit Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com Jean in Green Dress at The American Ireland Fund Emerald Isle Dinner Dance_Photo Credit Patrick McMullan/PMC Jean in a light blue ball gown at Times Square Fashion Week Event_Photo Credit Sylvain Gaboury /PMC
