The Catskill Chronicle

ROCK HILL, NY – The Board of Directors of the Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan Foundation honored longtime Livingston Manor resident and civic leader Mary Fried at a recent dinner held at Bernie’s Restaurant in Rock Hill.

In the photo at left, taken at the dinner to honor Ms. Fried are the Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan Foundation Board of Directors. Front row (l to r) Foundation President Lee Siegel, Mary Fried, Paul Rouis – Foundation Accountant; Back row (l to r) Tom Guarino, Foundation Financial Advisor, Peggy Schleiermacher, Dr. Don Simkin, Patti Casey and Gary Siegel. Absent from photo is George Kaplan, son of Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan who serves on the Foundation Board of Directors.

Mrs. Fried was honored for over 40 years of service as a charter member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Mary has been an asset to our board and we wanted to show our heartfelt thanks for her efforts through the years,” said Foundation President, Lee Siegel.

The Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan Foundation came to fruition through the generosity of Lew Beech residents Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan. Mr. Kaplan was a diamond cutter known to make his fortune by cutting the Jonker Diamond to perfection. He and his wife Charlotte left their estate to the Foundation whose mission is to “help keep kids off the street” by supporting youth programs and providing scholarships to those students who might not be able to attend college without the foundation’s support.

The Foundation provides over $80,000 grants and scholarships annually to local graduating students and civic organizations. “Mary served as secretary and has been a dedicated member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors since the beginning and has provided untiring efforts in providing the opportunity for individuals and civic organizations from our community to thrive and succeed,” said Siegel.