Brown: A ‘Quiet Giant’ of the fashion industry, Sidney Kimmel used his business success to do what came naturally, GIVE
“Sidney Kimmel is a modest man from humble beginnings, but he has done extraordinary things.”
This is an everyman – and woman – quote more relevant than ever.
If you ever get the opportunity to meet Sidney Kimmel, appreciate “the man who made a fortune in the fashion industry, but is most proud of how he has chosen to share his success with others by giving his wealth away.”
“Though his deeds are worthy of attention, he does not crave the spotlight.
“Once called a ‘Quiet Giant’ of the fashion industry by Women’s Wear Daily, it is a title equally applicable to his philanthropy,” according to the website which bears his name.
Sidney Kimmel, born in 1928, grew up in Philadelphia during the Great Depression.
“There can be no doubt that his ambition and drive are products of those hard times, but so is his generous spirit.
“Mr. Kimmel recalls an example of his parents’ generosity that resonates with him to this day.
“Sidney’s father, working as a cab driver in the 1930s, received a $50 tip one night.
“Rather than keep it all for his own family, the elder Mr. Kimmel gave half of his windfall to a fellow cabbie whose need was greater.
“The lesson was simple yet powerful: No matter your means, you give. You just give.”
Such a beautiful and timely sentiment.
Kimmel served two tours of duty in the United States Army and studied briefly at Temple University, taking his first jobs in the garment business as an inventory clerk, followed by a traveling salesman stint for a women’s wear manufacturer.
By 1959, he had joined Villager as a knitwear designer, rising to the position of president and CEO within a decade.
During the 1970’s, Mr. Kimmel parlayed his instincts for style, design, and business into his own clothing line, Jones New York, targeting the young, fashion-conscious career women of the era.
“The company grew into one of the leading designers and marketers of branded apparel, footwear, and accessories in the New York fashion industry. Jones New York’s growth included many recognizable brands, such as Nine West, Anne Klein, Stuart Weitzman, Joan & David, Gloria Vanderbilt, Barneys New York and Kurt Geiger.
In 2002, Kimmel stepped down as Jones’ CEO, remaining as its Chairman until 2014 when Sycamore Partners bought it for nearly $2.2 billion.
Earlier, in the 1980s, Kimmel discovered another outlet for his creative ambitions, serving as producer of several memorable movies including Blame It on Rio and Nine 1/2 Weeks.
To date, Kimmel has operated a Los Angeles-based production company, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, which has backed over forty feature films.
These include Crazy Rich Asians, Hell or High Water, United 93, The Kite Runner, Moneyball, The Lincoln Lawyer, and The Age of Adaline.
After Kimmel took Jones New York public in 1991, he began his philanthropic work in earnest, always mindful of his father’s simple generosity during bad times.
Since then, Kimmel has given away more than half of his assets to charitable causes, leading his peers by his generous example.
After his marriage to Caroline in 1999, the Kimmels have pursued their passion for giving.
The mission of the Sidney Kimmel Foundation embodies a pledge Mr. Kimmel once made to himself:
“Make progress through these gifts. Empower change. Connect Promise to Progress.”
A “Quiet Giant” of the fashion industry, Sidney Kimmel used his business success to do what came naturally: Give.
As the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Jones Apparel Group, Sidney Kimmel has been called the ‘Iron Man’ of the apparel industry.
Also as a prominent philanthropist, Mr. Kimmel has used his personal resources, business acumen, and industry contacts to raise awareness and funding for cancer research.
Mr. Kimmel donated $150 million to Johns Hopkins for cancer research and patient care.
In honor of his generosity, the Johns Hopkins Cancer Center became The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.
Speaking of his gift, Mr. Kimmel said, “I am blessed to be able to support one of the leading institutions in the world; to build on its momentum gives so much meaning to what we have all done thus far to defeat cancer and provides even more hope for what can now be accomplished.
My goal with this gift is to make meaningful advances in our knowledge of cancer.”
The motto of Temple University, “Perseverantia Vincit,” translated from Latin as “perseverance prevails,” aptly characterizes a quiet man living volumes of charitable giving.
Mary Brown is a weekly columnist and feature writer for Main Line Media News.
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