Fighting poverty
through higher education and career connections.
The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking foundation that began active operation in 1998. Our grants support colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations and individuals as they work to improve education and career outcomes for low-income New Yorkers. Our goal is to ensure that all New Yorkers, particularly those from marginalized communities, have the resources and opportunities needed to reach their goals in school, work, and life.
The son of immigrants, Milton Petrie opened his first clothing store during the Great Depression. Over the next fifty years, he built the Petrie Stores Corporation into a national retail powerhouse. At its peak, more than 250 Petrie Stores provided fashionable low-cost clothing to young women and employed tens of thousands of workers across the country.
As his company and wealth grew, Mr. Petrie became well known for his generosity. He often provided support to “everyday” New Yorkers he read about in the newspaper. Alongside his wife, Carroll, he also made a wide range of philanthropic gifts to New York’s major arts institutions, cancer researchers, nonprofits, and education initiatives.
Today, The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation carries on this legacy: by making grants to students in need through the Petrie Student Emergency Grant Funds and by supporting colleges and nonprofit organizations in New York City. The Foundation helps young people in New York City achieve their long-term goals through higher education and career opportunities.
Cass Conrad
Executive Director
Alex Roland
Knowledge
& Grants Manager
​Desiree Vazquez Barlatt
Program Director
Co-President
Etta Brandman
Patterson Belknap
Webb & Tyler LLP
Co-President
Regina Peruggi
Kingsborough
Community College,
Retired
Steve Colón
Bottom Line
Cass Conrad
The Carroll and Milton
Petrie Foundation
​
Gail Gordon
Loews Corporation,
Retired
Meisha Porter
Center for
Educational
Innovation
David Tanner
Three Mile Capital LLC
​
Jean Troubh
City Parks Foundation,
Trustee
Karrin Wilks
Borough of Manhattan
Community College,
Retired