Chairman
An MIT engineering graduate, David received his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he was one of the founders of the Entrepreneurs Center. He founded NWQ Investment Management Company where he was chairman and chief investment officer. As board members of StandWithUs, David and his wife, Janet, provide the sup
Chairman
An MIT engineering graduate, David received his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he was one of the founders of the Entrepreneurs Center. He founded NWQ Investment Management Company where he was chairman and chief investment officer. As board members of StandWithUs, David and his wife, Janet, provide the support for the organization’s social media project. Collaborating with Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) IMPACT Program, they provide college scholarships for former soldiers. They made the lead gift for the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute project. David and Janet’s commitment to the American Technion Society led to the establishment of the David and Janet Polak Center for Cancer Research and Vascular Biology. The Center is headed by Professor Aaron Ciechanover, who received Israel’s first Nobel Prize in science while holding the Polak Chair in Life Sciences at the Technion. David served as president of ATS’ Southern California chapter during its most successful fundraising period in history. He has been chair of the organization’s Western Region and served as Chairman of the Investment Committee of the ATS. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Technion. Today, the Polaks are providing the lead gift for a new world-class visitor’s center on the Technion campus in Haifa.
President
Jeff is President and Executive Director of the David & Janet Polak Foundation, formed in 2012 to support Israel, the American Jewish community and other causes. The Foundation makes grants to support over 50 organizations, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Stand-With-Us, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, the Un
President
Jeff is President and Executive Director of the David & Janet Polak Foundation, formed in 2012 to support Israel, the American Jewish community and other causes. The Foundation makes grants to support over 50 organizations, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Stand-With-Us, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, American Associates Ben-Gurion University, and the Ayn Rand Institute. The Foundation has also endowed the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and seeded major gifts to the Technion and the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Under Jeff’s leadership, the Foundation has been at the forefront of making Program-Related Investments, a cutting edge tool to direct charitable resources into for-profit companies.
Jeff, a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), is also the Managing Director of Polak Investors which actively manages fixed-income securities, public equities and alternative assets. He earned his BA in economics and international relations from the University of Southern California and CIMA designation from The Wharton School of Business. He serves on the boards of the American Technion Society and Ben-Gurion University, Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, Jewish Journal, as well as on the investment committees for the Jewish Home, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Jewish Federation, the Buckley School, the American Technion Society, and the Americans for Ben-Gurion University.
Secretary
Janet graduated from UCLA and taught elementary school before turning her full attention to family. She and David have been married for 50 years, and they raised their children, Jeffrey and Robert, in a home where great significance was placed on giving back to the community. Janet and David’s visionary charitable giving has mad
Secretary
Janet graduated from UCLA and taught elementary school before turning her full attention to family. She and David have been married for 50 years, and they raised their children, Jeffrey and Robert, in a home where great significance was placed on giving back to the community. Janet and David’s visionary charitable giving has made an important impact on organizations that support the Jewish community and Israel. They are the lead donors for a new building on the Grancell Village Campus of the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Janet was former chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Home of Los Angeles, and in 2006, she was honored for her ongoing contributions to the Jewish Home with the Associates-IMC Zelda White Achievement Award. In addition, Janet has served as the women’s campaign chair for both the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Valley Alliance, as well as on the Federation’s board and campaign cabinet.
Robert Polak is founder, CEO and chief investment officer of Anchor Bolt Capital, a Chicago-based hedge fund focused on industrial, transportation, and energy companies. Prior to its establishment, Robert was a portfolio manager at Citadel Investment Group. He has held positions at Copper Arch Capital in New York and NWQ Investment Mana
Robert Polak is founder, CEO and chief investment officer of Anchor Bolt Capital, a Chicago-based hedge fund focused on industrial, transportation, and energy companies. Prior to its establishment, Robert was a portfolio manager at Citadel Investment Group. He has held positions at Copper Arch Capital in New York and NWQ Investment Management, as well as Salomon Brothers in Los Angeles.
Robert holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. He graduated from UCLA with a BA in economics. Robert lives in Chicago with his wife, Victoria, and their daughter, Olivia.
Robert serves on the Chicago and national boards of the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces. He and Victoria have funded numerous projects including the Robert Polak Sports and Recreation Center for the Golani Brigade, a treatment room at the Nevatim Air Force Base Clinic, and several IMPACT college scholarships for IDF soldiers.
Robert is a member of the Chicago board of the American Technion Society. He and his wife supported the building of apartments at the Graduate Student Village. In 2016, they became Technion Guardians with the establishment of the Victoria and Robert Polak Fund for Applied Research with Commercial Potential. This 10-year fund will provide Technion PhD’s the resources to turn their ideas into viable commercial applications, intended to benefit the Technion, the State of Israel and the world.
Jonathan grew up in Beverly Hills and received a BA in Business from the University of Denver where he majored in commercial real estate development. He has been in the real estate business for well over 30 years. A marathoner and avid participant in community affairs, Jonathan founded the North Beverly Hills Homeowners Association and
Jonathan grew up in Beverly Hills and received a BA in Business from the University of Denver where he majored in commercial real estate development. He has been in the real estate business for well over 30 years. A marathoner and avid participant in community affairs, Jonathan founded the North Beverly Hills Homeowners Association and has had an influence in establishing building codes with the City of Beverly Hills. Jonathan holds a Brokers real estate license in both California and Arizona. He currently volunteers hundreds of hours a year in community affairs. He is an animal lover and gifted with dogs.
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