Our Founder
Albert Greenfield’s life was marked by his leadership in various business ventures and his involvement in civic and philanthropic activities. He was known for his contributions to the community through charitable work.
A Philadelphia Legend
In 1887, a boy destined to become one of America’s most powerful men was born in the Ukraine. His family moved to America in 1896 and settled in Philadelphia, where the young Albert Monroe Greenfield attended public schools.
He dropped out at 15 to work as a clerk for a prominent real estate lawyer, becoming fascinated with the power of property. In 1905, when he was only 17, he opened his own real estate firm, Albert M. Greenfield & Co. The precocious teenage entrepreneur, an instant success, was soon putting together multi-million dollar deals.
Mr. Philadelphia
Albert M. Greenfield was a board member of many civic and philanthropic organizations in Philadelphia and nationally, was active in city politics and played a major role in the highly significant 1960s redevelopment of Philadelphia’s deteriorated, historic Society Hill section where Independence Hall is located.
He remained politically active throughout his life, enjoying close relationships with U.S. Presidents from Herbert Hoover to Lyndon Johnson. His influence was so pervasive that he became known as “Mr. Philadelphia.”
A Documentary Film
- Edward Rendell, Pennsylvania Governor
- Paul Levy, Executive Director of Philadelphia’s Center City District
- Walter Dalessio, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority
- Arlin Adams, Former Federal Judge
- William Cutler, Temple University Professor
- Dan Rottenberg, Peter Binzen, & Joseph Distefano, Journalists
- Susan Fox, Author and Great-granddaughter of William Fox
- David Molke-Hansen, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Anne d’Harnoncourt, Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The film aired on WHYY/TV in Philadelphia and is available for educational or public screenings.
