When Lori Schreiber first visited Weill Cornell Medicine’s cancer research labs, she was impressed with the sophistication of the facilities and captivated by the brilliance of the researchers she met. Ms. Schreiber knew then that she wanted to help advance cutting-edge medical science by directing her philanthropy to Weill Cornell Medicine.
Ms. Schreiber, a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia Business School, joined the Board of Fellows in 2020. She serves on the Development Committee, the Membership and Governance Committee, the Special Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Meyer Cancer Center Subcommittee. She is also a vice chair of the We’re Changing Medicine Campaign Executive Committee.
Since 2018, Ms. Schreiber and her husband, Zach, have contributed generously to cancer research initiatives that support Weill Cornell Medicine’s mission to propel groundbreaking discoveries that advance the standard of care for cancer patients. A recent substantial gift is part of a larger, pledged commitment to support the institutional biobank.
Weill Cornell Medicine’s reputation for medical excellence, research innovation and educational achievement continually motivates Ms. Schreiber’s philanthropy and deepening commitment. She remains passionate about cancer research and is interested in women’s health. By her reckoning, philanthropy plays an essential role in ensuring that academic medical centers like Weill Cornell Medicine remain at the forefront of health care for all. Ms. Schreiber recently sat down with Lucille Ferraro, Weill Cornell Medicine’s assistant vice provost for development, to speak about the importance of philanthropy and her inspiration for giving.
LF: We appreciate your generosity to Weill Cornell Medicine and your exceptional volunteer service. Can you tell me how you first became involved with Weill Cornell Medicine and what that experience has been like?
LS: When my husband and I were able to start giving philanthropically, we decided that cancer research was going to be one of our priorities. Ellen Davis, a Weill Cornell Medicine Board Fellow, introduced us to researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, and we were blown away by the brilliance of these scientists, their passion for discovery and the impact of their work in advancing cancer care for patients. We truly believe that the research coming out of Weill Cornell Medicine will improve the lives of many people suffering from cancer.
Weill Cornell Medicine also holds a special place in our hearts for a very different reason. Zach and his sisters were the first quadruplets born at NewYork-Presbyterian, and all three of our children were delivered there. Our first-born was premature, and we witnessed firsthand how the doctors and nurses worked so tirelessly to keep mothers and babies healthy. That experience stayed with us. Weill Cornell Medicine has really been there for the most meaningful moments of our lives.
LF: What have you enjoyed most about your involvement as both a donor and as a member of the Board of Fellows?
LS: When we started donating at a higher level, I became aware of the many opportunities to hear from members of Weill Cornell Medicine’s outstanding faculty – including some of the very best doctors and investigators in the world – discuss their work and research, to hear inspiring stories from patients and to attend scientific lectures on a variety of topics in medicine. I love those lectures so much; I always learn new things. Many people, including myself, have a thirst for knowledge, and having these brilliant top doctors and scientists right there, speaking to you, is such a gift.
I am also excited to be on the Board of Fellows’ newly created Special Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. I hope that our work on the committee will help make high-quality health care more accessible to more patients, help improve inequities and inspire and encourage more diversity in the medical profession.
LF: On a personal level, which areas of our mission – care, discover and teach – are of greatest interest to you and why?
LS: I am particularly excited about children’s health, precision medicine and cancer research. At the moment, I am very interested in what Weill Cornell Medicine is doing around women’s health across the lifespan – from pediatrics to adolescent gynecology, maternal-infant health, postpartum and all the way through menopause.
LF: How would you describe Weill Cornell Medicine to a potential donor?
LS: I would say that people at Weill Cornell Medicine – physicians, researchers, students and Board members – are passionate about helping others. It is infused into the whole culture. Whether you are a patient, donor or volunteer, you just feel like you’re at the best possible place in the world.
LF: In addition to Weill Cornell Medicine, you and your husband give your time and resources to other institutions, organizations and causes. What inspires your charitable giving and philanthropic ideals?
LS: Once Zach and I had the resources, we decided that giving back to others was of primary importance to us. We are grateful for all that we have achieved and want to make a tangible impact on people’s lives. Education has been an important area of involvement for us.
We realized that many New Yorkers take for granted the world-class institutions that exist right under their noses, such as Weill Cornell Medicine. It is very easy to overlook that Weill Cornell Medicine and the other essential institutions that are the bedrock of our great city require our investment and care, but the simple fact is that they do. It is our sincere hope that others will recognize the important role that philanthropy plays and be similarly inspired to give to Weill Cornell Medicine.
LF: What advice do you have for individuals who are deciding how to become involved and where to give to make a difference?
LS: Find something that is meaningful to you. Invest in the best people and institutions whose mission and values overlap with your own. We want to be sure our great institutions are there when we need them. Weill Cornell Medicine is a great academic medical center, and not just for New Yorkers – but for the entire world.
