The Story Of Esther Wachtell

Esther Wachtell: A Profile in Philanthropy

Ojai Resident Esther Wachtell has been an involved contributor to philanthropy in addition to the Arts in Southern California. Her enthusiasm to culture, education and family values is an inspiration to every one. Wachtell is the founder and retired president of The Wachtell Group, a fundraising firm that specializes in large scale fundraising efforts. When she is not actively campaigning for donations to fundraising or advising the arts, Ms. Wachtell is working at one of her favorite things: hanging out with her family, playing tennis, or reading a very good book.

Wachtell's efforts throughout the years have been tireless. She at the moment serves as president of the Ojai Music Festival, as a director of the Museum of Ventura County, and as a board member for the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Wachtell recently fulfilled her term as Chair of the Development Committee for Children's Hospital Los Angeles where she was a fundamental piece of a fundraising campaign that raised nearly 1 billion dollars. This fundraising effort would be the largest ever campaign in the United States for a children's hospital.

Wachtell was the founding chair of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the University of Southern California. But lest you think Ms. Wachtell is all work without any play, the achievement she is most proud of is her family. She has ten grandchildren and values the time she spends with them. She recently hosted Thanksgiving for her whole family and laughed if we asked how it felt to have a houseful of kids and grandkids. "It felt great," she said. "My family is my greatest accomplishment." Wachtell is a woman who seems to have found a way to manage the delicate balance between a successful career and a fulfilling family life.

Ms. Wachtell is passionate about helping to solve the most pressing problems in our society. She feels that organizing people into a development structure can result in creative brainstorming and problem solving that can make a real difference in our world. With 50 immediate family members, it's no surprise that Wachtell is an ace problem solver and multi-tasker.

Wachtell is an avid tennis player who also swims and takes Pilates classes. She and her husband love to travel and own a home in Hawaii that they visit several times each year. In addition to the full family of children and grandchildren, the Wachtells have two German Shepherds. Esther Wachtell lives a very full life filled with equal parts family, friends and giving back to her community. Her mission in life is to share her good fortune by making the world a little bit better every day that I she is on this earth. Esther Wachtell is a woman to be admired.