DIvIDEnD - Stephen M. Ross School of Business - University of ...

is one of the most successful public-private partnerships in history,
having raised more than $700 million in private donations.
“it’s a demanding job, yet i get incredible satisfaction out of it,”
says weaver of the role he will hold until 2013. “i’m dealing with
two great american icons. at the same time the position is very
politically charged, which is understandable. everyone has something
to say about the statue of liberty and ellis island.”
about 40 percent of americans can trace their ancestry to ellis
island arrivals, and more than three million visitors enjoy trips to
the statue of liberty and ellis island every year.
GiVE ME liBERTY the foundation came calling in 2001 when
weaver was vice chairman of Pricewaterhousecoopers. he’d
joined the firm’s Philadelphia office after receiving his mBa, and
worked in the london and new york offices, among others. he
ascended to partner, opened the austin, texas, office (where he
met a fledgling computer entrepreneur named Michael Dell),
and eventually became managing partner for the western united
states. ultimately weaver returned to new york, taking on his role
as vice chairman.
“you see so much in the business world, and [at Pricewaterhousecoopers]
we were dealing with companies during some challenging
situations,” weaver says. “you see the deals going on, the
deals that should never have been made, and the palace intrigue.
it blends into this experience you apply when you’re making a decision.
you don’t know you’re doing it. it’s more a matter of just
knowing what works and what doesn’t.”
weaver now relies on those years of experience as he guides the
statue of liberty-ellis island foundation through new projects,
new board elections, and fundraising, the lifeblood of any nonprofit.
his clients in the corporate realm were some of the biggest
companies in the world, and the work gave him a feel for judging
character and allocating limited resources — skills that have served
him well in his current role.
AccEPTinG THE ToRcH after joining the board, weaver
filled a number of roles, eventually landing on the executive committee.
three years ago he received a call from then-chairman
John B. Turbidy saying the board wanted him to be turbidy’s successor.
weaver accepted the challenge and met with each director
personally to ask about their experience on the board, what they
would like the foundation to do, and what it could do differently.
“that worked out really well,” he says. “we got some great ideas,
and everybody was very open. i told them i had no agenda other
than for the foundation to fulfill its mission.”
with the statue of liberty in good shape after an extensive
renovation, the foundation today is directing much of its energy
toward restoration on ellis island. a $20 million expansion of the
main facility, now the ellis island immigration museum, is in the
works as the Peopling of america center. the expansion will offer
a wider view of immigrant experiences, both on and off the island.
weaver also wants to restore the island’s hospital.
“that’s an important part of american history,” weaver says.
“many were treated in the hospital, and some died there. it’s a significant
piece of the immigrant experience.”
all projects are coordinated with the national Park service,
which means regular trips to washington, D.c., to meet with colleagues
at the Department of the interior. that’s where politics
comes into play, but weaver says the well-established success of the
partnership keeps rancor to a minimum.
meanwhile, fundraising always is the main priority. the foundation
solicits large corporate donations but regularly receives individual
donations of $5–$20. those started coming in during the
It’s a demanding job, yet I get incredible
satisfaction out of it. I’m dealing with
two great American icons.”
drive to restore the statue of liberty for its 100th anniversary and
continue thanks, in part, to the high profile of the statue of liberty
and ellis island websites, where people can search the manifests
for their ancestors’ arrivals.
weaver also spends his time soliciting new blood for the board,
and he has set term limits (including his own) to keep that lifeblood
flowing. he seeks out high achievers who can check their
egos at the door, have a family immigration history, and are not
just looking to pad their resumes. for example, weaver worked to
bring investment banker-turned-fashion designer Josie Natori
onto the board. natori emigrated to the united states from the
Philippines. she was the first female vP of investment banking at
merrill lynch; today she oversees a lifestyle brand that includes
lingerie, eyewear, and fragrance collections.
in addition to his work with the foundation, weaver serves on the
corporate boards of three publicly traded companies. But it’s his
role as chairman of the statue of liberty-ellis island foundation
that offers him the most poignant rewards. each year the foundation
honors a notable american who can trace his or her ancestry
to the famed port of entry. it was one such event that weaver
encountered the iconic and emotional Berra sharing his family’s
life-changing experience.
“something like that is just wonderful to see,” he says.
spring 2010 DIvIDEnD 47