My father, Ronald Simon, was raised by immigrant parents who appreciated the opportunity to become Americans and they modeled the strength of overcoming many life obstacles. Watching the struggles of his parents in his early years, he learned to appreciate and maximize the opportunities presented to him, and, with his intelligence and talent, he went on to build his own business “empire.”

While in the process of achieving a high level of success, my father imparted unto his children both the importance of hard work and education, as well as a philanthropic desire to give back to the community in meaningful and impactful ways.  As a result of his accomplishments and generosity, I have been privileged with the opportunity to establish a charitable foundation with a mission that reflects both the values I grew up with and my own personal philosophy.

I truly believe that a college education is one of the keys that can unlock the doors to personal transformation, economic opportunity, and community involvement. However, many youth in today’s society have been faced with extremely challenging life circumstances, making it difficult for them to take a direct path toward reaching their goals. It is my hope that, with the right kind of early mentoring, support and financial assistance, the students we serve will attend and graduate from a university of their choice and ultimately develop into productive, confident and self-fulfilled leaders in their communities.

The word “Family” in “Simon Family Foundation” symbolizes not only the legacy of my own family of origin that is so important for me to carry on, but it also represents my vision to create a forever “Family” of high-achieving kids who are able to realize their dreams. The young men and women who become a part of our organization are some of the most amazing and inspirational people you will ever have the chance to meet, and I am honored that they are now a part of our “Family”.

~Kathy Simon Abels, Ph.D.