VIRGINIA SLOANE

SLOANE--Virginia. Philanthropist and civic leader, died on August 24, 2014 after a lengthy illness. She was 91 and lived in Larchmont, New York and Manhattan. Virginia, known to all as "Ginnie", was elected President of the Heckscher Foundation for Children in 1986 and presided over its affairs for many years. In 2012, she became President Emeritus. Under her leadership the Foundation provided funding to many of the leading social service programs and cultural institutions in New York and elsewhere in support of its mission to level the playing field for underserved youth by providing access to education and experiences that make for a richer, more forward-reaching life. Grantees have included the Boy Scouts of America, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Central Park Conservancy, Citizens' Committee for Children, Citizen Schools, Community Service Society of New York, Coalition for the Homeless, Covenant House, De La Salle Academy, The Doe Fund, The Fresh Air Fund, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, Harlem RBI, Henry Street Settlement, Jazz at Lincoln Center, National Dance Institute, NPower, New York City Center, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, The New York Pops, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, Perez Art Museum Miami, The Public Theater, Prep for Prep, Reading Partners, Seedco, Success Charter Network, Taproot Foundation, Teach for America, Tipping Point Community, and Wounded Warrior Project. In 2003 she was honored by United Cerebral Palsy at its "Women Who Care Hall-of Fame" gala. She was an accomplished pianist and an avid tap dancer who studied under some of the leading figures in the arts, including Charles "Honi" Coles. As the Founder of the National Dance Institute, Jacques d'Amboise, said: "Virginia realized that children are everything, and they deserve the best that we can give them. Being with her, I felt the sunlight got a little bit brighter, and the shadows on the moon diminished." She is survived by her two children, Gail Sloane Meyers (Andrew Hall) and Peter Sloane (Jaar-mel Sevin Sloane), five grandchildren, Hilary Azrael, (Josh Gurewitsch), Kate Meyers (Jonathan Etra), Nessia Sloane Kushner (Taylor Kushner), Alex Sloane and Jake Sloane, and four great grandchildren, Zachary and Molly Azrael, and Lilly and Annabelle Etra. A private funeral will be held for family members. A memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to an organization of the donor's choosing which serves the interests of children in need.