Donor Spotlight: The Klipper Family
A family’s belief in the power of books inspires a tradition of giving passed from generation to generation.
By Shelley Friel, Deputy Director of Advancement
This story appeared in the summer 2026 issue of PROOF, a PJ Library magazine.
The Klipper family proudly supports PJ Library’s work around the world and especially in New York.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KLIPPER FAMILY
When Mitchell and Rosemarie Klipper established the Klipper Family Foundation in 2013, Rosemarie was volunteering as a literacy tutor at an elementary school. Mitchell was then chief executive officer of the retail group at Barnes & Noble, with 30 years of experience in books and large-scale distribution. The couple learned about PJ Library through their involvement in UJA-Federation of New York. Their interests in books, literacy, and strengthening the Jewish community made them natural advisors and philanthropic partners to PJ Library.
The idea of family has always been central to the Klippers’ charitable giving. Now all four of their adult sons and their wives are deeply involved in their foundation’s work, and all five grandchildren (spanning ages 1-10) eagerly read PJ Library books.
“PJ Library has quickly become a meaningful part of our family life. It’s a wonderful way to introduce Jewish values, traditions, and storytelling at such an early age,” says Alan Klipper, whose 1-year-old son Noah’s favorite book is Challahbaloo!
“I think books change lives,” shares Rosemarie, “and so for us, it’s just such a natural way of directing philanthropy. Education, books, reading, promoting Jewish values — it doesn’t get better than that.”
For more than a decade, the Klippers’ generosity has helped PJ Library reach families around the world and particularly in New York, where Rosemarie serves on PJ Library’s New York Advisory Council, providing input to local staff about program ideas and events.
Rosemarie and Mitchell, longtime friends of PJ Library founder Harold Grinspoon, are proud to support a program so meaningful to their family. “Harold, to me, is very inspirational,” says Mitchell. “He once told me that when you give the gift of your time, of your money, of your knowledge, it’s you — you are the one who receives the actual gift, not just the recipient.”
As their foundation grew, Rosemarie and Mitchell established a new family tradition: Every year on Thanksgiving, a few hours before their meal, they hold their formal Klipper Family Foundation meeting. “We all spread out, and everyone speaks. The boys and their wives share their philanthropic moment of the year and explain what it meant to them. And then as a group, we talk about our vision and priorities for the coming year,” explains Mitchell.
“Sitting down for a formal meeting makes clear not only that the foundation’s work is an important part of our family’s identity but also that the foundation is meant to continue on so that I, my brothers, our wives, and our children one day honor our parents’ legacy through philanthropy that supports the Jewish community,” says Robert Klipper.
Rosemarie and Mitchell couldn’t be prouder of the way their family has continued to support PJ Library — and how they have found their own connections to philanthropy.
“In their own way, they found what’s important to them, and I can’t wait until their kids are old enough to sit around the table and make decisions on how they can better the lives of fellow human beings,” Mitchell says.