Who We Are
The Van Leer Group performs the holding function for all the Van Leer charitable activities. As such supervises its investment portfolio and the governance of its charitable activities. This includes overseeing the work of the Bernard van Leer Foundation to help all children get a good start in life; as well support to the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and the Jerusalem Film Centre, focused on strengthening democracy, equality and regional peace.
Our work traces back to 1949 when Bernard van Leer decided to dedicate the profits of his business -- Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer -- to philanthropy. Having lived through the second world war as a Jewish man and as a refugee, he wanted to use his wealth to help build a more peaceful society. His wife Polly and sons Wim and Oscar agreed, relinquished their inheritance rights and set up a foundation.
When his father Bernard passed away in 1958, Oscar took over the business and philanthropic activities. He believed that the methods and insights of the business world could strengthen those of the social sector and vice versa. He sought an ideal synthesis, which over time evolved to form the Van Leer Group.
