New York, NY – [September 27, 2024] – Civic Hall’s Union Square location— New York’s leading hub for digital skills training, civic innovation, and technology for social good—is proud to announce a transformational $15 million gift from the family of Bernard Goldstein. With the gift, Civic Hall’s Union Square facility will be renamed, “Civic Hall – The Bernard Goldstein Center”. The generous $15 million gift from Bernard’s wife, Pat, and their children— Nancy Rebold of Weston, CT; Bruce Goldstein of Boulder, CO; and Mark Goldstein of Tiburon, CA— honors their late husband and father Bernard Goldstein, a renowned pioneer in the computing industry. Pat Goldstein will also join Civic Hall’s Board of Directors to represent the family.

Pat Goldstein’s decision to support Civic Hall reflects her recognition of its Union Square location’s role as a newly built cutting-edge institution dedicated to empowering underserved communities through digital skills, collaboration, and enhancing civic engagement through technology. Her donation will help Civic Hall complete its facility, expand its impact of ensuring equitable access to technology and education, and honor Bernard Goldstein’s legacy of harnessing technology for the public good.

Christine McMahon, President and CEO of The Fedcap Group, the parent organization of Civic Hall, said, “The Goldstein family’s incredible generosity will have a lasting impact on Civic Hall and the communities it serves. By renaming our Union Square center in Bernard Goldstein’s honor, we celebrate his enduring legacy as a technology visionary and champion for social progress. His name will now be synonymous with innovation that advances the public good and help drive the power of possible for so many underserved individuals that Fedcap serves.”

Pat Goldstein said, “When I first visited Civic Hall’s Union Square location, I was profoundly inspired by its mission to drive lasting change through technology. Bernard deeply believed in the transformative power of technology to improve lives, and I see that belief in action at Civic Hall every day. His unwavering moral compass and commitment to fairness guided everything he did, and those he touched were always better for it. Our family is proud to support Civic Hall’s dedication to digital inclusion, and I know Bernard would be deeply honored to have his name associated with such a meaningful institution.”

“The Goldstein family’s generous gift underscores the importance Civic Hall plays in shaping an equitable future for the City’s tech industry and ushering a new generation of tech jobs accessible to all New Yorkers,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “We are deeply grateful for their visionary investment and look forward to welcoming New Yorkers to Civic Hall – The Bernard Goldstein Center.”

Andrew Rasiej, founder and President of Civic Hall said, “Since its inception, Civic Hall has been about harnessing technology to address society’s most pressing challenges. Thanks to the Goldstein family’s generous support, we are poised to deepen our impact, bringing together civic leaders, technologists, and change-makers to develop solutions that drive equity and opportunity for all.”

About Civic Hall
Civic Hall is a collaborative innovation center that brings together civic-minded technologists, social entrepreneurs, government officials, and community leaders to develop technology solutions for the public good. Located in Union Square, Civic Hall fosters a vibrant ecosystem of knowledge sharing and cooperative action.

Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Civic Hall facilitates groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact organizations, civic and social innovators, workforce training partners, and New York’s employer ecosystem to work collectively to meet the educational and professional needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind. Civic Hall also serves as a tech incubator and accelerator, helping to spur new innovations and ideas. For more information about membership opportunities, please visit civichall.org.

About Bernard Goldstein
Bernard Goldstein was a visionary in the field of computing and a key figure in the development of the minicomputer industry. His career was marked by groundbreaking contributions to technology, including his leadership at Broadview, a leading Silicon Valley mergers and acquisition firm where he helped shape the evolution of computer software industry. Bernard also served on the boards of Apple Computer, SPSS Inc., and Giga Information Group. Throughout his life, Goldstein remained dedicated to fostering innovation and promoting the use of technology for the public good. For more information on Bernard Goldstein please visit here.

Contact:
Jim Malatras, 212-727-4200, (JMalatras@fedcap.org)