The Steven A. and Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation reportedly is donating $5 million to the Mill River Collaborative, with the funds to support construction of an outdoor winter skating rink and summer fountain at Mill River Park, among other goals.
The Stamford Advocate reported the Mill River Collaborative has raised $13 million to date with the goal of hitting a $20 million target to create an urban greenway. It was the biggest donation announced by the organization since Fairfield-based General Electric Co. committed $1.5 million in March 2011.
Cohen runs Stamford-based SAC Capital Advisors, among the world’s largest hedge funds. The past few years, he has been in the public eye while exploring bids to purchase the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Headed by Alexandra Cohen, the foundation listed $35 million in contributions in 2010, the most recent Internal Revenue Service record online, including:
- $8 million for the Robin Hood Foundation in New York City;
- $6.2 million for Brown University;
- $5.4 million for North Shore ”“ LIJ Health System on Long Island, N.Y.;
- $5 million for New York Presbyterian Hospital; and
- $1 million for Stamford Hospital.
“Stamford has been a great place for us to do business in for nearly two decades, and Alex and I are very pleased we could help our neighbors through this rink and fountain,” Cohen said in a written statement published by the Advocate. “When Gov. Malloy asked us to participate, we didn’t think twice.”
