by NJJN Staff

May 21, 2009

Philanthropist and developer Joseph Wilf was awarded an honorary degree by Kean University at the Nathan Weiss Graduate College commencement ceremony on May 12.

Wilf, who has served on the Kean University board of trustees for more than 15 years, survived the Holocaust in Europe.

Wilf — the founder, with his late brother Harry, of the Short Hills-based Garden Homes Management Corporation — has been a major supporter of Jewish and general causes, including the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and Kean’s Holocaust Resource Center at the Union campus.

Over the years the Wilf Family Foundation has awarded scholarships to approximately 100 Kean students.

“My family and I are very proud of our long affiliation with Kean University,” Wilf said at the ceremony. “It has brought us great joy to see so many dedicated young men and women, especially first-generation students, attain their goal of a college education at Kean University and get started in their career of choice while never forgetting their roots.”

The Wilf Family Foundation supports organizations in New Jersey and throughout the country, including the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey, United Way, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Elizabeth General Medical Center, and the American Cancer Society.

It also supports the United Jewish Appeal, Israel Bonds, and the Jewish Educational Center of Elizabeth.

The Wilf brothers were two of the founders of the American Society for Yad Vashem. Joseph is also vice president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany.

Author and poet Maya Angelou was the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. More than 730 students received their degrees.

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