Bernie and wife Ethel established several programs in honor of their children (who lost their lives to cancer) including internships at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Johns Hopkins University for Brooklyn College student’s intent on careers in cancer research; a breast cancer resource library for patients at Columbia Presbyterian; and research programs at Dana-Farber and Johns Hopkins. They are longtime supporters of the Brooklyn College Global Medical Brigades, and Bernie has been active in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since 1975 where he served as a member of its national board and NYC chapters until 2020. He currently serves on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Education and Services Committee, as well as in the Pediatric Oncology Visiting Committee at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Brooklyn College presented Bernie with a Presidential Medal in 2011, and he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brooklyn College Alumni Association in 2017; he was also the first recipient of the Miracle Maker Leadership Award from Mutual Funds Against Cancer.

In 2016, Bernie and Ethel were jointly honored with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Vision for Life Award. Bernie and wife Ethel are the sponsors of internships at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and John Hopkins University for Brooklyn College Students who want to go onto a career in cancer research. You can watch this video to learn about Bernie and Ethel’s philanthropic work and its impact on Brooklyn College students.