Klainer family philanthropy focuses primarily on promoting entrepreneurship, on creating economic access for vulnerable women and children, on the arts, and education. Daughter Sara Klainer, son and daughter-in-law Matt and Amy Dahlstrom Klainer, and extended family members are actively engaged in creating the family legacy.

We believe in providing initial gifts in the form of seed money, then providing hands-on support in numerous ways: creating access, helping with strategic planning and assessment, seeking additional funds, and marketing. Projects that exceed our expectations often receive additional funding. Projects that do not are capped.

Current projects include:

Entrepreneurship

The Dr. Jeremy A. Klainer Entrepreneurship Award at the University of Rochester School of Nursing was established in 2002 in the wake of Jerry’s sudden death, and provides an annual grant of $5000 to an early stage entrepreneur within nursing or related health care professions. Initial funds for the endowment were raised by Matt Klainer , who in 2003 completed the coast to coast bike ride Jerry had planned to celebrate his 60th birthday. To follow Matt’s journey, go to www.rideacross.com . The Klainer endowment also includes funds given in memory of the late Richard Gell, a dear friend of the Klainer family.

In May 2007 Dr. Patricia Chiverton was named to the Pamela York Klainer Chair of Entrepreneurship at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. This is the first endowed professorship in nursing entrepreneurship in the country.

The Klainer Center for Women and Business at SUNY Geneseo , established in 2004, has the mission of providing all Geneseo students and faculty with the opportunity for hands-on interaction with leading entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals from the greater Rochester community. The larger goal is to develop a pipeline of future leaders who will drive economic rebirth in upstate New York. The Klainer Center, run by Geneseo business students, operates a resource center, conducts an informal speaker series, and hosts an annual funded business plan competition. The $15,000 pool of award money given annually is currently funded by the Klainer family and by M&T Bank. The Center also conducts research on gender differences in the workplace. In 2006, Pam Klainer, Dean Mary Ellen Zuckerman, Advisory Board member Sara Klainer, and Geneseo student coordinators Michaella Allisandrello and Tracey Tillapaugh were selected to present a paper at the Conference on Women and Global Leaders hosted by Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, UAR. For 2007, we are exploring a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce and Novgorod State University to support Russian women in securing micro-credit loans and starting home based businesses. For more information go to www.geneseo.edu .

Economic Access for Vulnerable Women and Children

The Greater Rochester Women’s Fund at Rochester Area Community Foundation . Pam began working with RACF in 1986, when she served as the second Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Women’s Fund. The Women's Fund provides grants throughout a seven country area to organizations that support economic, health, and safety issues for women and children. For a listing of Women’s Fund grants, go to www.racf.org .

Sojourner House

Sojourner is a direct service provider whose mission is "to help women and their families develop stable, independent, and productive lives by providing shelter, structure, and strength to embrace the future." Pam became involved as a donor in 2006. For more information, go to www.sojournerhouse.org

The Arts

Rochester-based Garth Fagan Dance is one of the premier dance companies now touring the United States and internationally. Pam is an active donor and avid fan. For more, go to www.garthfagandance.org .

Education

The Sister Alice Lubin Fund for Work that is Brilliant and Original at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey, was established by Pam in 2003 in honor of Sister Alice Lubin, professor emerita of English at the College. In her remarks at the inception of the Lubin Fund, Pam recognized Sister Alice as "a woman of brilliance and deep faith who has led generations of St. Elizabeth women on an uncommon intellectual and spiritual journey." The Lubin Fund has brought to campus and to the surrounding community internationally recognized poets and writers such as Seamus Heaney, Mary Oliver, and Kathleen Norris.

The Barbara Wendell York Fund at Mary Cariola Children’s Center, Rochester, New York. The York family includes not only Pamela York Klainer, Linda York Janesko, and Wendy York Witterschein, but their sisters Barbara, who died at the age of 9 months, and twin Beth, who died at birth. Barbara had mild cerebral palsy, and might have benefited from services from an agency like Mary Cariola, which focuses on the joyful realization of each child’s full potential. The Fund provides summer stipends for teachers who need to adapt curriculum for their students’ special needs. The Fund has grown from gifts in memory of Barbara’s mother, Margaret Halpin York [1915-2007], and from a significant gift from MCCC Board member Justin Vigdor.

The Playground Fund at Rochester Area Foundation

In the early 1980’s, when Sara and Matt Klainer were toddlers, a favorite family activity was finding the best playgrounds within an hour’s drive of Rochester. Jerry Klainer established the Playground Fund to encourage community playgrounds to include equipment that would accommodate wheelchairs and other supportive devices, so that all children could play together. The family's involvement with the Fund has now reached into the second generation, as Sara Klainer has taken responsibility for working with RACF to advise on the selection of grants.
For more information, go to http://www.racf.org/