At Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), we believe in the power of creativity to transform lives and open doors to new possibilities. Few philanthropists embodied that conviction more deeply than Dr. Leonard Tow (May 30, 1928 – August 10, 2025). His life’s work—and the family foundation he built with his wife Claire—has left a legacy of creativity, justice, and hope that continues to shape our field and fuel our mission.
A Life Rooted in Possibility
Leonard Tow’s story is both deeply personal and profoundly American. Born to Russian immigrant parents in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, he built his life on a foundation of education, determination, and vision. After earning his doctorate from Columbia University, his path spanned continents—conducting research in Africa, producing Broadway shows, and pioneering the cable television industry when it was still in its infancy.
Together with his wife, Claire, Dr. Tow turned that success into a family legacy of giving. Through The Tow Foundation, founded in 1988, their philanthropy has spanned the arts, medicine, education, and criminal justice reform. Guided by a commitment to humanity, compassion, and respect, Leonard Tow signed the Giving Pledge, vowing to dedicate more than half of his wealth to advancing the common good.
The Tow Foundation and RTA
For RTA, the relationship with The Tow Foundation has been nothing short of transformational. The Foundation has long championed innovative programs that uplift those often overlooked by society—funding Hudson Link’s and Bard College’s prison education programs, supporting reentry leadership initiatives, and investing in organizations that “connect the dots” between creativity, justice, and opportunity.
When RTA received our first grant from The Tow Foundation in 2015, we quickly realized we had joined a community of partners who were not only generous funders but also steadfast allies. Members of the Foundation could be found at nearly every RTA performance—inside correctional facilities and on the outside—listening, learning, and encouraging.
In recognition of this extraordinary commitment, RTA presented Dr. Tow with our Cornerstone Award at its first gala in 2019. We honored him not only for his philanthropy, but also for the values he exemplified: opening doors to unlikely audiences, lifting up marginalized voices, and investing in the belief that people—no matter their circumstances—can change, heal, and thrive.
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, The Tow Foundation continues to carry Leonard Tow’s vision forward. Their recent commitment of three years of General Operating Support to RTA provides us with crucial stability and flexibility at a pivotal moment in our growth. This multi-year investment allows us to plan boldly—expanding our programs in correctional facilities, strengthening our alumni network, and ensuring our teaching artists and participants have the resources they need to lead, heal, and create.
The legacy of Leonard Tow is not only written in the institutions and programs his family foundation has supported, but also in the lives changed by those investments. For RTA participants—men and women who find their voices, develop new skills, and return to their communities as leaders—the Tow family’s belief in the transformative power of the arts is a lifeline.
As we look ahead to the next chapter of our work, we do so with deep gratitude for the vision and generosity of Leonard Tow and his family. His legacy will continue to inspire us to open doors, challenge assumptions, and build a future where creativity and compassion light the way forward.
