The Weisz Foundation

The Weisz Foundation was established under a trust deed dated 27 January 2010; the charity was previously called The Joir and Kato Weisz Foundation.

Origins

The Foundation was established by George Weisz, a Hungarian-born British engineer and entrepreneur, and was named Joir and Kato in honour of his parents.

George’s philanthropy reflected his personal background and interests. Having escaped Hungary as a Jewish child refugee shortly before the Second World War, he developed a strong interest in Jewish heritage, education, culture, the arts, science and medicine. 

Purpose

The Foundation’s formal charitable objects are deliberately broad: trustees may apply its funds to purposes regarded as exclusively charitable under English and Welsh law. In practice, the Charity Commission identifies its areas as including education and training, health and saving lives, poverty relief, and economic/community development. It makes grants to both organisations and individuals, in the UK and overseas. 

Under George, this broad purpose was used to support a range of causes, including:

·      Jewish heritage and culture — including support connected with Bevis Marks Synagogue and the preservation of the Weisz Western Sephardi Collection, now held at Oxford. 

·      Arts and music — including cultural and musical projects and support for artistic activity.

·      Science and medicine — including support for medical research and specialised scientific equipment. 

·      Film and historical preservation — George supported the documentary Regina, about Regina Jonas, reflecting his interest in preserving Jewish history and stories with wider human significance. 

Current activity

Following George Weisz’s death in 2020, the Foundation has continued as a grant-making trust. The trustees stated approach is to support charitable organisations whose work benefits individuals, rather than to operate programmes itself. 

The Trustees have decided for the time being, to retain the existing legal name but identify grants as being made by “The George Weisz Foundation in memory of George Weisz”, so that his name and philanthropic legacy continue to be associated with the projects it supports.