CIG seeks optimal returns through direct investment, creative partnership structures, fund investments, and other innovative techniques. Early Learning Ventures is building a network of over 600 high-performing child-care providers, making quality child care more accessible to American families. Sabrina Merage Naim Daughter of Hot Pockets co founder David Merage; niece of Paul Merage; Echo Capital Group wife Merage family - Forbes In 1976, David Merage co-founded Chef America, Inc., a national frozen food manufacturer known for inventing and marketing products including Hot Pockets, Lean Pockets, and Croissant Pockets. That's very important to him. The snack had to come fully-enclosed so no utensils were needed. Stell 18 Inverness Place East, Englewood, CO 80112. How did they do it? David was born to Andre and Katherine Merage in Tehran, Iran, in 1949 as one of five children. David And Laura Merage Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica Mr. Merage continues as a very successful businessman and currently leads one of the largest and most diversified real estate and investment companies in the United States. David and Laura, who came to the U.S. as teenagers, recognize that America has been very good to them. Arik Sharon and his administration encouraged my organization to embrace this challenge. MIG Private Equity is a fund of funds with a portfolio of investments ranging from consumer products to technology companies. In February 2020, Michelle was sentenced to five months in prison. He wanted a snack-able treat a kid could microwave in two minutes and eat holding nothing but a paper towel. A collection of recent news, press mentions, and insights on the David and Laura Merage Foundation and our impact areas. The David and Laura Merage Foundation, based in Colorado, focuses on community development and early childh Brothers Paul and David Merage created a snack sensation with their Hot Pockets, which became a household name. Similar to MIG, the CIG Group also invests in commercial real estate, capital markets and private equity. By incorporating real business experience, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for social impact, we provide the best services and quality no matter what we do, and we go where not many people are willing to go. Every morning I wake up and say to myself, 'This is the start of another good day.' and the original The Fugitive and Dynasty to lighter family-themed comedic programming like The Partridge Family, The Courtship of Eddies Father and Nanny and The Professor. And all of that seems totally unnecessary. Why was this company an attractive investment to CIG? Its law. Total assets. Each of the 13 children born to the four brothers manages a separate foundation supported by the family. He has worked to re-create that culture at CIG. A lot of students will be better of with the new financial aid criteria. She paid $100,000 to have a proctor rig their ACT exam and she paid $200,000 to have one of the girls labeled as a fake volleyball recruit. After two years of trial and error, they developed a frozen sandwich that tasted good and didn't get soggy when heated. At the age of 15, he traveled to England to pursue his studies and then completed his formal education in the United States with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from California State University. Its society. Reese Witherspoon Sold Her Los Angeles House to a Hot Pockets - DIRT At the age of 15, he traveled to England to pursue his studies and then completed his formal education in the United States with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from California State University. Redline Art Center has been noticed Redlines new exhibit Carey Fisher, curated by Cortney Lane Stell, brings together two popular landscape painters. [4] Hot Pockets were manufactured in Englewood, Colorado, Chef America's former headquarters, until moving its business to the rest of Nestl's frozen business in Solon, Ohio. ", Sabrina was a teenager when her father and uncle sold Chef America, but she says she was unfazed by the publicity or comments from kids at school. Paul's daughter Michelle was involved in the infamous college admissions scandal, also known as Operation Varsity Blues. HOT POCKET Founder and Successful Entrepreneur, David Merage - PRWeb "Retirement? Today, Merage runs Consolidated Investment Group (CIG), a Denver-based company strategically investing in real estate, capital markets and private equity. My vision for Israel is a prosperous and cohesive society that is committed to the well-being of all its citizens. When the Nazis invaded Paris in 1940, he fled to Iran and resumed his life there. This model allows Laura and I to be truly diverse in the types of programs and endeavors in which we become involved. Additionally,Laura serves on the University of Tel Aviv Board of Governors and is an emeritus board member for the Anti-Defamation League. She founded the Sabrina Merage Foundation in 2008 with the intention of building bridges between diverse societies. In 1974, Paul and David co-founded their own food company. There's just one teeny, tiny blemish on the family's track record. Paul set up an in investment firm in Southern California, and David started Consolidated Investment Group (CIG), an investment management company in Denver that invests for a select group of clients. That, plus a culture of respect and honesty in everything we do, makes CIG an exciting environment in which to work.". After interviewing dozens of reservist and army officials, we understood that this was a widespread problem. 1946 takes a journalistic, academic approach. David is married to Laura Merage, who was also born in Tehran. David and Laura have two adult children, Jonathan and Sabrina. In just one year, the company's sales increased by double digits. When they were ready, the brothers went door-to-door marketing their frozen Belgian waffles to coffee shops, supermarkets and restaurants. As a venture philanthropist, I always look for the highest social returns on my investment. email info@merage.org The mission of our Foundation in Israel is to empower individuals and communities; we incubate and accelerate circles of change those who are strengthened, strengthen others, and lead the way to promoting the prosperity of Israel and the well-being of all its citizens. Born in Iran, they came to the U.S. in the 1960s as students and settled in California. Their primary funding interests include early childhood education, economic development in Israel, weather research, and educational programs for young people that promote tolerance and diversity. Who Invented Hot Pockets? These Are the Geniuses Behind - Distractify Attentive to shifts in American culture, they noted two coalescing trends: Sales of microwave ovens were increasing as more women entered the workplace. Chef America then marketed Hot Pockets nationally. We believe in the power of empowerment, leadership development and community building. How do I decide what to invest in? Early Childhood Education: The foundation is leading Early Learning Ventures, an initiative to enrich education for children ages birth to five years old. "California felt like home," says David. As the Nazis approached France, the Merage parents made the wise decision to get on a boat and move to their native Tehran. The Denver Post has recently praised RedLine Art Center and Black Cube Head Quarters for their daring new exhibits. Now enthusiastic about philanthropy, she sits on several non-profit boards and attends conferences on philanthropy. To kindle the younger generation's interest in philanthropy, their grandmother, Katherine Merage, gave each of her 13 grandchildren the gift of a foundation and the freedom to make their own decisions about how to give away the money. After the sale of Chef America, David Merage founded Consolidated Investment Group (CIG), a Denver-based investment management company specializing in capital markets, and commercial real estate. I kid you not. Joe's 55,000 square-foot home topped Paul's by 10,000 square feet. Just three years earlier his parents were living in France, where the father ran an antiques import/export business. What do you think is the role of philanthropy in the world today? They spent months testing and perfecting a recipe for frozen waffles. "He surrounds himself with exceptionally capable people and then gives everyone opportunities to learn, contribute and succeed. Andre Merage died in 2001. Sabrina is the principal; her cousin Ben Levy is the vice president. "Only four food companies were in a position to buy a business the size of Chef America," says David. We constantly look for opportunities that tap into existing networks and infrastructures that avoid duplication. Through our Merage Foundation initiatives we create opportunities that increase well-being and positive life outcomes. David and Laura's philanthropic passion started years prior to the formal funding of the organization. I sought out my American dream and seized the opportunity to move overseas, diving fully into art education, learning from established artists and teachers, and experiencing museums and art institutions in the U.S. From then on, I devoted myself to the craft, using it as an outlet for self-expression. "It just rolled off my shoulders," she says, "because my family was never fixated on money but on values. Laura is an artist and photographer with works in public and private collections nationally and internationally. "My father used to tell us stories about successful family businesses," David says. One of Merages major ongoing philanthropic programs is Merage Institute for U.S.-Israel Trade. I guess UC Irvine wasn't prestigious enough? I am also leading an effort to engage business leaders in early childhood education advocacy. Janavs is the daughter of Paul Merage, who, with his brother, co-founded Chef America Inc., which created the Hot Pockets microwavable snack. Our plan includes developing the ecosystem of agricultural tourism in the Negev, by improving the quality of existing agritourism products, supporting the establishment of new ventures and creating jobs.