In 1958 Mayer & Morris Kaplan, father and son established The Mayer
& Morris Kaplan Family Foundation as a manifestation of their
commitment to "Tzedakah," a Jewish concept of helping others and
encouraging justice. A large portion of the Foundation's resources
came from the 1986 sale of the family's business, Sealy Mattress
Company, and a bequest of funds from lifelong friend Jerome Joss.
Today, Morris Kaplan, his children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren maintain the growth of the foundation with their
time and resources.
The Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation is a multi-generational family foundation that focuses its resources in the City of Chicago. Its mission is to help the people and communities of Chicago to forge a more progressive, inclusive and democratic society. In pursuit of this mission, the Foundation is guided by the following goals: to advance educational opportunities for young people; to support a range of social services that build strong cohesive families; to foster a vibrant visual and performing arts environment; to ensure access to reproductive rights; and to help give a more powerful civic voice to the underserved people and communities of our city.
The Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation is a multi-generational family foundation that focuses its resources in the City of Chicago. Its mission is to help the people and communities of Chicago to forge a more progressive, inclusive and democratic society. In pursuit of this mission, the Foundation is guided by the following goals: to advance educational opportunities for young people; to support a range of social services that build strong cohesive families; to foster a vibrant visual and performing arts environment; to ensure access to reproductive rights; and to help give a more powerful civic voice to the underserved people and communities of our city.