| Jeremiah Milbank |
Jeremiah Milbank (1887–1972) was an American philanthropist noted for his close friendship with President Herbert Hoover. His grandfather, also named Jeremiah (1818-1884), lived in New York City and in Greenwich, CT and was a dry goods merchant who became a partner in Borden, Inc., making a fortune in the condensed milk industry.[1] Milbank founded the Institute for the Crippled and Disabled (later renamed the Institute for Career Development) in 1917 in collaboration with the Red Cross as a rehabilitation center for disabled World War I veterans.[2] In 1928, Milbank organized the International Committee for the Study of Infantile Paralysis and later served on the original Board of Trustees of the March of Dimes.[3] Milbank served as a treasurer of the Republican National Committee, and often hosted Herbert Hoover on his yacht Saunterer, including to celebrate Thomas Edison's 82nd birthday.[4] He later joined Hoover in founding the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and served as treasurer of the national organization for 25 years. His son, Jeremiah Milbank Jr., later served as chairman of the organization.