A philanthropic spirit bridging generations part 2
Grandmother spurs a devoted grandson’s vision
Lee Graff
As a third generation member of a family devoted to philanthropy, Scott Morielli was educated by his late grandmother on the importance of charitable giving.
During her final decade of life, Lee Graff instilled in the 37-year-old Morielli her own values of altruism, preparing him for his role as her successor. For 10 years, while helping to run the family company, Morielli would spend each Tuesday with his grandmother, listening to her philanthropic vision. “My grandmother loved doing things for others. She was truly selfless and focused on making the world a better place,” Morielli said.
Graff and her late husband Seymour are iconic figures in City of Hope’s history. From 1954 until he died in 1964, Seymour Graff sat on City of Hope’s board of directors, and served as president and chair of the board from 1961 to 1964. Lee Graff also served on the institution’s board and was named “Vice Chair for Life” in 1989.
The Lee Graff Medical and Scientific Library, which opened in 1984, is another important family contribution. Today, the Lee Graff Foundation continues to fund the Graff Library, known as one of the nation’s foremost medical research libraries.
In addition, the Graffs helped found City of Hope’s Merchants Club, which merged with the Professions and Finance Associates in 1995 to become the Apparel Industries Group, now a leading support group. The three groups have raised tens of millions of dollars for the institution since their inceptions.
Lee Graff appointed Morielli as executor of both her estate and her foundation prior to her death in March 2005. In this role, Morielli recently designated a $250,000 endowment to support the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Cancer Immunotherapeutics and Tumor Immunology.
“It was a forward-thinking process,” said Morielli. “I wanted to ensure this donation went toward furthering immunotherapeutic research and other advanced medical research that City of Hope is leading.”
In 1933, the Graffs founded their highly successful business, Graff Californiawear, formerly one of the nation’s largest privatelyheld apparel companies. After her husband’s death, Lee Graff assumed the role of company president and chief executive officer. Morielli also served as a vice president of the company.