The Brodinsky Foundation for the Arts and Humanities is dedicated to honoring the legacy of Lee Ira Brodinsky and his family. They were philanthropist known for their generous spirit and passion for music and human rights. Inspired by their ideals and fueled by love for the arts and humanities, our newly established nonprofit aims to perpetuate their legacy by fostering creativity, research, and the expansion of artistic minds.

The Brodinsky Families legacy extends beyond charitable giving. We strive to embody the deep appreciation for friendships, love, live music, art, and sports. At the heart of our foundation lies a community of intelligent, artistic, and caring individuals. We are not merely an organization; we hope to be a community legacy, representing the collective spirit of those whose lives were touched by his creativity, compassion and love.

The story of Lee and I,

Lee and I met in 2007 at Paulson Investment company. For 7 years we shared cubicle space together and built a close father/daughter friendship. We bonded over music, food and the fact that we were both raised Jewish. The Jewish community in Portland is very small, so our friendship also included holidays and family get togethers, to celebrate our common heritage. Lee was at my wedding in 2010 and was like an uncle to my children.

Lee had a love for music like no other I have ever witnessed and taught me so much about jazz and the blues. We would occasionally sneak out together, on our lunch breaks to see a free show at the local jazz radio station. He attended the 2023 Portland Bluesfest just 2 months before his shocking passing and volunteered for 20 years with them.

Lee had a huge heart and an amazing community of friends. He was constantly giving and helping people. When he passed away suddenly of Pancreatic cancer in September of 2023, his tragic passing rocked the loving community of people he had built around him. Everyone was in shock and confused that such a strong, seemingly healthy, boisterous light could be snuffed out so fast. This wakeup call, of the fleetingness of life and life’s unpredictability, led to the establishment of the Brodinsky Foundation for the Arts and Humanities. Lee’s legacy of giving and community will be forever perpetuated through our actions and values.