Palm Beach Post, Friday, June 30, 2006, Local, Page 4B

SEWALL'S POINT'S RAPPAPORTS DONATE $12.3 MILLION TO HARVARD INSTITUTE

By Michael C. Bender, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sewall's Point residents Jerome and Phyllis Rappaport announced this week that they will donate $12.3 million to a Harvard University institute dedicated to public policy.

"This is really the biggest thing we've ever done," Phyllis Rappaport, chairwoman of the Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation, said Thursday. "My husband is a graduate three times over from Harvard, and he's always thought it was important for young people to work in state and local government."

The Rappaports created the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, housed in Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, in 2000. Their latest gift brings their total donation to the project to more than $15 million.

The two native New Yorkers moved to Sewall's Point 15 years ago. They have donated money to build Temple Beit HaYam in Stuart and served on the board of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra. The family also has held functions in Stuart for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, which they helped create.

Most of their philanthropy has taken place in Boston, where Boston Magazine ranked them the seventh most influential family in the city in 2003.

Jerome Rappaport was a Harvard College and Harvard Law School graduate. He was involved in Boston's urban renewal and worked as lead developer of the Charles River Park in the West End.

Their Harvard institute helps finance public-sector fellowships for graduate students, research grants for scholars to study local issues, scholarships and training for local officials and events that bring together scholars to discuss key issues.