Key Facts
Key Information
About
The Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization founded in 1968 by Dr. Irving Moskowitz, a physician and philanthropist, along with his wife Cherna Moskowitz. The foundation's mission is to receive, administer, and distribute funds to support education, scientific research, religious causes, and general charitable purposes, helping people in need regardless of race, creed, politics, or religion. It has been particularly devoted to supporting the youth of Hawaiian Gardens, California, where the Moskowitz family has resided, partnering with local organizations and the city to provide educational programs, recreational activities, athletics, and social services over the past decade. The foundation raises significant funds through a bingo hall operated in Hawaiian Gardens, which has been a key revenue source for its philanthropic activities. In addition to domestic initiatives, the foundation has focused on international causes, notably funding Jewish housing projects and settlement activities in East Jerusalem, reflecting its strong ties to pro-Israel advocacy. Following Irving Moskowitz's death in 2016, Cherna Moskowitz has continued to lead and expand the foundation's work, making ongoing donations to non-profit organizations such as the ARC and others aligned with its charitable goals. The foundation has also provided financial support to groups like the American Freedom Defense Initiative and the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA), which promote pro-Israel perspectives and counter what they view as biased media coverage of the Middle East. This involvement highlights the foundation's role in networks of influence related to Jewish causes and political advocacy. The foundation operates as a private family foundation, emphasizing community impact and religious philanthropy, though its funding of settlement-related projects in disputed territories has drawn some controversy for contributing to geopolitical tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The foundation was actively providing funding from 2017-2019.