HOPE Founders, J. Ira and Nicki Harris

J. Ira Harris

J. Ira Harris is Chairman of J. I. Harris & Associates. A native of New York City, Mr. Harris graduated from the University of Michigan in January 1959 where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration (B.B.A.). Mr. Harris moved to Chicago in 1964 where he was in charge of the Midwest operation of Blair & Company. He joined Salomon Brothers in 1969 as a General Partner and served as a member of the Executive Committee of Salomon Brothers from 1978 to 1983. He also served as a Director of Phibro-Salomon. In January 1988, he joined Lazard Freres & Company as a Senior Partner and member of its Management Committee, where he remained until January 1998 when he formed J. I. Harris & Associates; a financial consulting firm.

Mr. Harris is active in a variety of organizations. Among these, Mr. Harris is a Life Trustee of Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital Corporation and the Museum of Science and Industry. He is a Life Director of the following: the Chicago Public Library Foundation, the National Center for Learning Disabilities in New York City, and the Board of Directors of the Kravis Center. He is a Director of the Polk Brothers Charitable Foundation, the Big Shoulders Fund for the Chicago Parochial School System, and the Palm Beach Civic Association. He is a member of the Kellogg Graduate School Advisory Board and serves on the Executive Committee of the Palm Beach Community Chest/United Way.

In 1967, Mr. Harris was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Year by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Chicago. He has also received the Community Leadership Award from Marillac House, the Honor Award from the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Scopus Award from the American Friends of Hebrew University, the Silver Plaque Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Human Rights Medallion from the American Jewish Committee, the Horatio Alger Award and was an honoree of the Celebration of Philanthropy held by the Palm Beach County Community Foundation.

Nicki Harris

Mrs. Harris is a board member of the Norton Museum of Art, Executive Committee Member of the International Directors Council of the Guggenheim Museum, Northwestern University Women’s Board, the Historical Society of Chicago, the Chicago Boys and Girls Club and the Women’s Board of Ravinia Festival Association in Chicago. She is also a member of the Society of the Four Arts, a trustee of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, and a former board member of Intracoastal Health Systems, Inc. She co-chaired the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Gala Night of Stars in 1996-97, was chairwoman for 1998-99 and was the recipient of Palm Beach Atlantic College’s 1999 “Woman of Distinction” award. She attended the University of Colorado and is a graduate of Tobe-Coburn Retailing and Merchandising with an A.S. Degree in Fashion Merchandising, Marketing and Management. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have three children and five grandchildren.