Photographs by William Taufic.
Our family has always been a family of volunteers. We’ve always tried to give back,” says Arthur Selkowitz, former CEO of the advertising firm D’arcy Macy Benton & Bowles. “I learned it from my parents and continued to learn it from my in-laws. We’ve set up a family foundation and inculcated it in our kids. I guess it’s part of our genetics.” Giving feels so natural to Arthur that being awarded for it feels unnatural. “I’m not sure how I feel about it,” he says.
Arthur knows what he does feel strongly about, and it’s a long list of causes. First, there’s disease, specifically lupus treatment and research. “My oldest son has lupus,” explains Arthur. “He was diagnosed at sixteen and is forty today and doing well. When it strikes close to home, you get involved and try to help.” Arthur sits on the executive committee of the Lupus Research Institute in New York (not one to steal the limelight, he notes that his wife and two sons are involved in related organizations).
Second: “the environment, parks—the whole green movement,” says Arthur, who is chairman of the Mill River Collaborative. “I’ve been very involved in the Greenway Project. It has been on the drawing board for one hundred years.” Almost a Stamford native (he moved here from New York at age four), Arthur donated one million dollars to help bring to fruition the plan to transform downtown and the riverfront into a vital and verdant setting. “I knew I would be asking others to donate, so I wanted to set the bar high.” He notes that this is the single-largest gift his family has given. (“It’s substantial” is as far as he will go in tabulating total donations over the years.)
Third: culture. Arthur sits on the board of the Avon Theatre and the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. Rumor had it he raised the largest amount of money for Stamford’s Dancing With the Stars, but he clarifies, “That’s not true, but I did win it. I came in first in terms of Best Male Dancer and second in terms of giving money. I did the tango, and I worked really hard, I’ll tell you that. I didn’t want to embarrass myself and I guess I overachieved!”
The fourth and final cause: helping those less fortunate. From St. Luke’s LifeWorks to the Stamford Jewish Community Center (where Arthur has served as president), this generous guy has a productive hand in everything. “I don’t think it’s enough to give money,” he says. “If you have time and resources, get in and help. The government has cut back in terms of the arts and even health. In effect, I put my mouth where my money is and really try to contribute.”
Arthur insists that his wife, Betsey, get some of the credit. “We’re a team. We really do all of this together.”
Arnold Karp, who has served on two boards with Arthur, says, “He is a leader in the community and is extremely giving of time, effort and financial support. I can’t say what a great person and mentor he is to all he comes in contact with.”