Philanthropic and Nonprofit Vitae Dick Robinson:
Air-Waves to Charity-Waves

While different in implication, no matter which activity Dick Robinson enjoys – philanthropy, charity, giving and service – they are all addictive to him. He hopes that his enthusiasm and commitment are contagious and that a charity-wave continues building alongside his air-waves.

Auctions Items for Charity

Dick Robinson, Founder & Chairman of Connecticut School of Broadcasting (the nation’s oldest and largest group of broadcast media schools), owner of New England and Florida radio stations and Founder of the nonprofit organization the Society for the Preservation of the Great American songbook, believes that we give to make a difference in ways our skills allow us to impart aid or assistance. For instance, he auctioned his Steinway “Model M” piano which had been played by Great American Songbook artists as they visited his home ove the years. The proceeds of this extraordinary possession and from his classic Rolls Royce Silver Wraith II went directly to WXEL TV (PBS) AND WPBI FM (NPR).

LIFE Honors American Veterans Disabled for Life

Dick believes that when asked to create a charitable call to action, he must go above and beyond. Invited by LIFE Founder Lois Pope, Dick co-hosted the “American Veterans Disabled for Life Gala” with actor Gary Senise at the Pierre Hotel in NYC in 2006. Dick saluted Lois Pope’s LIFE Foundation on radio and TV for its dedication to build the nation’s only American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, DC, slated for 2012. Over 800,000 listeners, viewers, friends and corporations joined in the fund-raising effort to raise the $70 million needed for the project. LIFE’S Lady in Red Gala entertainers over the past years have included the Beach Boys, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Mar Wilson of The Supreme’s fame, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., all of whom Dick has known since the 1960’s in his heyday as a top-rated Top 40 radio disc jockey. Dick and Sallly Robinson will be Co-Chairmen for this year’s (2011) Lady in Red Gala.

Dick believes philanthropy is also about prevention. Dick served a Co-Chiarman of the Hanley Center’s $14 million Capital Campaign including the building of the Dick Robinson Prevention Center. For 11 years, the annual Dick Robinson Golf Classic, benefiting the Hanley Center, ran strong at the Old Plam Golf Club.

 

 

 

Palm Beach Round Table

As President of the Palm Beach Round Table, not only has Dick Robinson been a featured speaker at a sold-out luncheon at The Breakers Hotel, this year, he also arranged to have internationally-renowned crooner Jack Jones perform for members at the exclusive Royal Room of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. In April, 2011, Dick and his wife, Sally, chaired “A Salute to America,” the Palm Beach Round Table’s Annual Gala Dinner Dance, featuring music from the Great American Songbook.

American Red Cross

At back-to-back International Red Cross Balls, Grand Diplomatic Host Dick Robinson joined Donald Trump as Grand Chairman of Ambassadorial Arrangements along with his friends and stars of the charity extravaganzas, Neil Sedaka and Frank Sinatra Jr., who performed at the Balls. The pomp and circumstance of the Red Cross Ball is always breath-taking.

American Heart Association

Since 1979, Dick and Sally Robinson have been actively engaged with the American Heart Association of Palm Beach. At the 2001 Palm Beach Heart Ball, Sally, as Chairman, and Dick, past President of Heart, raised more than $1 million from individuals rather than corporations. Sally was also Chairman of the Heart’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

Juvenile Diabetes

Dick and wife Sally were also Co-Chairs of the Juvenile Diabetes Gala for which they arranged Al Martino as performer and the legendary Mary Tyler Moore for another blockbuster event. (The previous year, the Robinsons served as Gala Chairmen, friend Keely Smith performed, and an unprecedented $1.9 million was raised in just one evening.) The next year, Dick brought in singers Debby Boone and Jack Jones, and under their tutelage as Chairs of three consecutive galas, over $5 million had been raised for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Hundred Club of Connecticut

Besides former State of Connecticut Governors and other dignitaries, Dick Robinson is also a past President of The Hundred Club of Connecticut (since 1967). The Hundred Club honors and assists families of police officers, fire fighters, and corrections officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

South Florida’s NPR/PBS “Man of the Year Award”

WPBI 90.7 FM (formerly WXEL) carries “Dick Robinson’s American Standards by the Sea” on Sundays, 3 to 5 PM and WXEL TV airs “Dick Robinson’s Music by the Sea” on Saturdays at 6:30 PM.

As past president of the Garnet Society, South Florida’s PBS/NPR’s fundraising arm, Dick Robinson was honored as “Man of the Year" at it’s “Keeping the Legends Alive in a New York State of Mind” event. Previously Dick had personally presented the award to Vic Damone -- it’s the kind of stuff legends are made of.