Photographs by William Taufic.
For all that Rich Granoff has done for the community, Greenwich really has his wife to thank. The couple was living in New York City when she took a job in Greenwich in 1988. “After a year of reverse-commuting, Jill and I decided to move to Greenwich, and I founded Granoff Architects here in town,” explains Rich, who graduated cum laude from Syracuse University’s School of Architecture. “Ironically, a few months later Jill took a job in the city and she has been commuting ever since. My office has been a mile from my house for twenty years.”
This convenience, claims Rich, is part of the reason he manages to sit on so many boards: Kids in Crisis, American Red Cross, Chabad Center, Greenwich Business Club and Arch Street Teen Center (plus, previously, the Whitby School, the Rock Ridge Association and Executives for Conservation). Granoff Architects does five to six figures worth of pro bono work annually. Past projects include gut renovations and additions for Greenwich Adult Day Care, the American Red Cross and the Chabad Center of Greenwich; a renovation of the United Way headquarters; and a new research lab for the ONS Foundation. If only everyone who has a mile commute could do this much good.
“I think it’s very important to give back to our community,” says Rich. “Greenwich has been such a wonderful place to grow my business and raise my family.” As Granoff Architects grew to twenty-four design professionals, the Granoffs added two kids (Whitby alumni), who follow their parents’ altruistic lead. “They’ve cooked meals for Kids in Crisis and volunteered at many community events,” he says. “We also have them donate a percentage of monetary gifts they receive. I grew up in a household where giving back was a part of our lives. My wife and I share a similar philosophy toward philanthropy.”
Friend and colleague David Hirsch adds, “Rich and his wife, Jill, make constant generous donations to dozens of charities, including Women in Need, Foundation Fighting Blindness and UJA. Rich was head of the Building Committee of the Whitby School for nine years and really built most of the school.”
If you own a business but lack the time or funds to give back, Rich advises, “It’s all about balance, between work, family, friends and community service. Greenwich is a small community, and what goes around comes around. Local philanthropy is sincerely appreciated and recognized. Every local business should do their part, regardless of the dollar value.”