New Foundation Aims to Train 1,000 Leaders in Honor of Wesley Mittman LePatner

The Wesley Mittman LePatner Foundation arrives as nonprofit organizations face a deepening crisis in leadership. With formal volunteering in the United States declining by roughly 28% over the past decade, the pipeline for experienced board members and civic stewards has reached a critical bottleneck. The foundation aims to bridge this gap by recruiting accomplished professionals from the private sector, encouraging them to apply their expertise toward strengthening civic institutions rather than relying solely on financial contributions.

The organization’s flagship program, Wesley Leaders, is a 24-month accelerator that pairs fellows with a primary mentor and a broader circle of advisors from business, philanthropy, and public service. Laurie Blitzer, who serves as the foundation's CEO, emphasized that the initiative is designed to replicate the rare, holistic approach to leadership that defined Mittman LePatner’s own career. Beyond the fellowship, the foundation will host TeamWesley programming to facilitate service initiatives and community conversations throughout New York City.

Evan LePatner, who chairs the board, described the project as both a personal tribute and a necessary investment in the country's social fabric. Supported by a board that includes Jefferies Financial Group president Brian Friedman and UJA-Federation of New York president Suzanne Peck, the foundation intends to create a long-term multiplier effect. By fostering a nationwide network of purposeful leaders, the organization hopes to transform individual professional achievement into a sustained, collective impact on the communities that need it most.