George T. McDonald
George Thomas McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Spring Lake, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | January 26, 2021 (aged 76) NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Social advocate, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of The Doe Fund |
| Spouse | Harriet Karr (third wife) |
George Thomas McDonald (April 28, 1944 – January 26, 2021) was an American social advocate and philanthropist renowned for establishing the homeless support organization The Doe Fund.
Early life
Born in Spring Lake, New Jersey to Helen (née Storminger) and John McDonald, George was mainly raised by his mother due to his father's absence. During his childhood, he frequently visited her while she was hospitalized with tuberculosis. Educated in Catholic institutions, he credited the clergy there with influencing his ethical framework. Demonstrating early leadership ambitions, he subscribed to The Congressional Record at just eight years old.
Career
After leaving college in the mid-1960s, McDonald initially worked as a salesman in New Jersey before progressing to managerial positions within Manhattan’s Garment District clothing sector. Witnessing homelessness firsthand on New York City streets motivated him to abandon his corporate path during the mid-1980s and embrace a life of poverty. He volunteered at Grand Central Terminal with the Coalition for the Homeless. Following the death of a homeless woman known as "Mama Doe" after her eviction from the terminal, he founded The Doe Fund to champion housing initiatives.
In 1988, McDonald obtained a municipal contract to refurbish vacant buildings while employing homeless individuals. When these properties were subsequently sold, jeopardizing the organization’s continuity, he shifted focus to launching a street worker program that started with snow removal on the Upper East Side and later expanded into street cleaning services. This effort developed into the employment initiative Ready, Willing, & Able.
During the 1990s, amid reductions in welfare programs, McDonald advocated for low-wage work as a means to achieve upward social mobility. The Doe Fund broadened its offerings to encompass job training, employment placement support, meal provision, transitional and affordable housing development, as well as assistance for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS and disabilities.
McDonald sought election as New York City mayor in 2013 but was unsuccessful. From 2017 until his passing, he served on the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Personal life
He was married twice prior to his union with Harriet Karr, a screenwriter known for writing about April Savino, a homeless woman. McDonald passed away from cancer on January 26, 2021, at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.