"Life’s persistent and most urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Giving Back
I learned early in life that the quality of success is measured by the most impoverished among us. That is why I maintain a steady focus on philanthropy and supporting community.
100,000 Masks for India!
India is the heart of Jeffrey’s company, Vyng. He recognized that without swift intervention to reduce the spread, India’s poorest communities would be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 due to dense living conditions, limited access to healthcare, and the inability to isolate. Jeffrey partnered with contacts at GiveIndia, India’s largest online donation platform, and CRY, organizations already delivering food and prevention equipment to vulnerable communities in and around New Delhi, to help distribute masks to those most in need.
Getting Keurig machines & coffee into hospitals
Soon after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Jeffrey reached out to his sister, an emergency room physician on the front lines in New York City, to ask how he could support her during an intensely stressful and uncertain time. She shared that coffee during the night shift was hard to come by, as communal coffee pots were prohibited, and coffee shops weren't open late. Within hours Jeffrey mobilized a rapid-response initiative, raising thousands of dollars, expanding the effort to multiple hospitals, and ultimately partnering with Keurig Coffee who stepped in to scale the initiative to ensure medical teams working overnight shifts stayed energized during a critical moment.
Success in entrepreneurship is about being flexible enough to shift your methodology and tactics in order to meet the needs of the problem you are trying to solve. Teaching kids that mindset early is how we collaborate towards future success and equip the leaders of tomorrow with the skills they need to co-create a meaningful life.
Generosity Clean Water Project
At their annual Gala, Jeffrey was recognized for his creative fundraising tactics. He refrained from drinking water for 24 hours (not easy!) while taking that opportunity to educate people on water shortage inequities across the globe. He raised $8,000 to build two clean water wells with Generosity for 630 people in Uganda and Peru.
Holiday Toy Drive
Jeffrey produced a holiday concert featuring local Venice Beach musicians to raise awareness around children in need and the heightened inequities many families face during the holiday season. In conjunction with the event, he organized a toy drive to collect gifts for children, helping ensure they could experience joy and celebration during Christmas and the holidays.
NFTY Mentorship Program
Jeffrey volunteers with NFTE, a non-profit that pairs entrepreneurs with students to provide mentorship and foster an excitement for creating something and honing the skills to see that vision through to the finish line. In 2016, his mentee came in second place in the NFTE National Competition where he got to meet President Obama as part of his award.
Beach Party Fundraisers
Since 2013, Jeffrey has thrown some of the largest beach parties in Venice. What was intended to be a celebration for friends and the local community quickly evolved into a platform for impact, as he recognized the opportunity to pair each event with a nonprofit cause. Through these events, he has raised thousands of dollars in support of Syrian Civil War relief, the Red Cross, Los Angeles firefighters and first responders, U.S. veterans, and other charitable initiatives.
