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Helmsley Estate Donations Kind Of Shaft The Dogs
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 21, 2009
Modified Apr 21, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 21, 2009
Modified Apr 21, 2009
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Wherever Leona Helmsley is now, we imagine she's throwing a fit. Even though the late, famously mean hotelier's will had a two-page mission statement outlining that her $5-8 billion estate go to the care and welfare of dogs, a judge ruled in February that the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Trust could give the money to other non-canine charities. The first round of donations, totaling $136 million, was announced today: $115 million to medical research (including $40 million to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for a digestive diseases center, $25-million to Mount Sinai Medical Center a electrophysiology center, and $10-million to Mount Sinai School of Medicine an inflammatory bowel disease center) while "just" $1 million went to ten animal-related charities (the ASPCA got $100,000). The trust said, "Throughout their lives, the Helmsleys were committed to helping others, through the innovations of medical research, responding to those in need during critical times and in other areas. We now have the privilege of continuing their good works by providing support where it will make a difference."
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dogs
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Leona Helmsley
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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