Trump gave to home, but nobody remembers why

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Donald Trump donated $5,000 to the Hebrew Home in Riverdale in 1988, although the purpose of the money seems to have long been forgotten, the senior home’s CEO Daniel Reingold said. 

One theory is that Mr. Trump has given money for an annual gala the Hebrew Home holds to honor various dignitaries, Mr. Reingold, who was a lawyer for the facility at the time of the donation, told The Press in a recent interview. 

“My guess is that he probably made a donation because somebody he knew was being honored by the Hebrew Home,” Mr. Reingold said. “I have met him, there was a time when we were asked to provide some advice and guidance to his family regarding his father, but that was back probably over 20 years ago.”

But Mr. Reingold said he could not remember who had been honored at that year’s gala. He also declined to discuss any of his experiences with Mr. Trump.

“It doesn’t influence us at all, we are not political,” he said. “We are a non-profit, we don’t lobby, and if we do lobby there are guidelines about how a non-profit can lobby, we have to report it and so on.”

A variety of people donate money to the Hebrew Home each year, and many of the donations are substantially greater than Mr. Trump’s $5,000. Mr. Trump’s donation to the Hebrew Home is also relatively small compared to some of his other donations at the time, including $40,000 to his son’s school and $10,000 to Homes for the Homless.

“That must be why we have the Trump Tower here in recognition,” Mr. Reingold said, jokingly.

Hebrew Home, Donald Trump, Donations, Anthony Capote

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