Sheila Reicher Fine and Milton Fine

The Fine Foundation invests in projects in arts and culture, Jewish life, and science and medicine, primarily in the greater Pittsburgh region. Since its founding in 2007, The Fine Foundation has provided more than $37.5 million in grants to over 350 nonprofits.

Over the years, the Foundation has made large grants to some organizations with long-standing relationships to the Fine family. Examples of these include endowment funds for the Carnegie International exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art, where Mr. Fine served as Chairman of the Board and was later honored by being named Emeritus Trustee of Carnegie Museums; and the Milton Fine Curator of Art at The Andy Warhol Museum where Mr. Fine was an early supporter and founding director; and support for applied research in science and medicine at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh; and support for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s many initiatives inn social service and education; and  significant support for the newly opened (2023) Vision Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Milton Fine was the son of Jewish immigrants and a product of working-class Pittsburgh. A self-made entrepreneur who earned an international reputation as one of the outstanding leaders in the hospitality industry, Mr. Fine co-founded and grew Interstate Hotels Corporation (IHC) into the largest hotel management company in the world.

Mr. Fine believed that those who have created wealth have a unique opportunity to give back to society. To that end, he created The Fine Foundation which he endowed not only financially, but also with the ideals and beliefs that guided him throughout his life and in his business success. Mr. Fine passed away in 2019.

Also born and raised in Pittsburgh, Sheila Reicher Fine has dedicated herself to her community as a volunteer and civic leader since her teen years. She has served as a board member with many organizations in Pittsburgh, including Shadyside Hospital Foundation, The Children’s Institute, Community Care Behavioral Health, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and Tree of Life.

In 2003, Mrs. Fine co-founded LEAD Pittsburgh (Leading Education and Awareness for Depression), a community initiative advocating for the recognition and acceptance of depression as a treatable medical condition and pressing for the need to eliminate barriers to treatment. LEAD developed a college student curriculum to foster resilience skills in young adults to protect against the development of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.

In 2014, Mrs. Fine received the Albert B. Craig, Jr. Award for Innovation in Mental Health from Staunton Farm Foundation. In 2015, she received the Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Women of Distinction Award for her work in mental health and Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award from the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2016, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf honored her among 10 women as one of the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania.

In 2012, the Fines were awarded honorary doctorates of Public Service by Chatham University.

Together they built an important collection of contemporary art which was always intended for the public and has now been given to the Carnegie Museum of Art where it can be appreciated by residents and visitors alike. It comprises the most significant gift of art in Carnegie’s history. An exhibition dedicated to the collection will run from November 18, 2023 through March 17, 2024 before the works are then integrated into the permanent collection galleries.