THE HELD FAMILY LEGACY

The Held Foundation was established in the 1980s by Harold and Louise Held to give back to their community in Southern California. When Louise fell ill and ultimately passed in 2001, Harold and his children — Joe, Robert, and Melissa — experienced firsthand the challenges of accessing quality nursing care. Inspired by this deeply personal event, the Held Foundation made its first strategic investment, making direct grants to individual nurses and nonprofit hospitals in the Southern California area to help bridge the gap in care, creating the Louise K. Held Nursing Scholarship Fund. This fund was designed to attract top graduating nurses from across the country to nonprofit hospitals on the Westside of Los Angeles.

After Harold’s passing, Joe, Robert, and Melissa embraced their parents’ legacy of generosity and transformed the Held Foundation into a broader philanthropic force. Determined to honor their family’s values, the three siblings—now trustees— expanded the Foundation’s reach, with strategic investments to supoort organizations across Los Angeles that foster strong, resilient communities. Under their leadership, the Foundation has deepened its impact in areas such as education, Jewish life, and disaster relief, while remaining firmly rooted in its original commitment to innovative healthcare and community support throughout Southern California.

Today, the Held Foundation remains a family-led organization, with the third generation actively engaged through the Next Generation Board, an initiative that empowers Harold and Louise’s grandchildren to learn about philanthropy and lead their own grantmaking efforts. Across generations, the Held Foundation remains committed to fostering a spirit of compassion, innovation, and service — honoring the legacy of its founders by investing in organizations and programs that strengthen communities and improve lives.