A great tree has fallen in the forest of philanthropy: Barry Segal, founder of Segal Philanthropies, has passed away.
Barry lived a purposeful 90 years, building Bradco Supply and then dedicating himself to several major philanthropic endeavors.
The first of these took the form of Segal Family Foundation, born of a life-changing trip to Rwanda in 2008 inspired by the Clinton Global Initiative.
Segal Family Foundation is now one of the most impactful American funders in Africa — second only to the Gates Foundation by number of grants — and was honored with Catalyst 2030’s Overall Best Donor award in 2023.
Barry was someone who noticed problems, called them out, and actually did something about them. In his own words, “I got involved in philanthropy because a lot of things bother me — things like corporate greed, profiting off prisons, and the failure of institutions to protect children from abuse, to name a few. I also feel fortunate to be in a position where I can use my wealth to help those who don’t have the same opportunities I did.”
In 2015, he founded Focus for Health Foundation to alleviate inequities in the United States — and next came Focus Central America, in 2021, to address the issues fueling forced migration in the region. Segal Philanthropies, led by Martin Segal, annually grants $22 million in unrestricted funds (median $20,000) to over 600 global organizations via three mission-driven foundations.
Barry lived his life very much on his own terms, still going into the Segal Philanthropies offices daily at the age of 90. It was his wish that more wealthy individuals would share their fortunes and invest in making life better for others. His hope was that this work would continue long after he was gone. It will.
He hoped that other people would see Segal Philanthropies’ efforts, care about them, and do likewise. “It’s hard to make big changes in the world, but every time you help lift a child out of poverty and give them access to education, you contribute to improving our world,” he said.
So, in lieu of flowers, his family suggests that memorial contributions be made to support Focus for Health grantee organizations whose work includes combatting child sexual abuse, advancing criminal justice reform, and addressing social determinants of health (See article for details).
A man of many passions, including sports, particularly tennis, which he played avidly into his eighties, Barry was the proud patriarch of a large and loving family. He was a devoted father to six children, an admired father-in-law, and a cherished grandfather to fifteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
A generous mentor and friend, his impact is immeasurable, and his legacy continues through family, friends, work, philanthropy, and the many lives he touched globally. He will be deeply missed, and his influence and vision will resonate for generations to come.
Rest in peace, Barry Segal. 💚
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