Fueling the Entrepreneurial Spirit: The Kantor Family invests in the future of innovation

David and Leslie Kantor have been devoted partners in Pine Crest’s mission for more than three decades, serving the School as parents, grandparents, volunteers and leaders.

Today, through a transformational philanthropic investment establishing the Kantor Family Venture Catalyst, they are extending that commitment to future generations while providing leadership that strengthens entrepreneurship, mentorship and real-world learning.

Rooted in gratitude for the education their children received and the experiences now shaping their grandchildren, the Kantors’ generosity is helping turn purpose into possibility for students across Pine Crest.

For more than 90 years, Pine Crest has pursued an educational vision grounded in purposeful, forward-looking learning. Under the leadership of President Dr. Dana Markham ’18H, entrepreneurship has grown into a schoolwide approach that encourages collaboration, creativity and real-world engagement.

As Pine Crest continues to advance innovative and applied learning through long-term vision and strategic investment, philanthropic partnerships play a central role in bringing that vision to life.

A Family’s Commitment to Pine Crest

For the Kantors, this partnership has been shaped by decades of personal connection. David and Leslie are parents of four Pine Crest alumni, Niki Rubin ’00, Oren Kantor ’06, Ali Shapiro ’03 and Gavriele Green ’10, and grandparents to eight current students, with a ninth joining in fall 2026.
“We feel deeply invested in the values that our children gained from being at Pine Crest,” Leslie said.

David reflected on the impact of the Upper School experience. “When we decided to send our oldest to Fort Lauderdale for Upper School from the Boca Raton campus, that is when my eyes really opened to how transformational Pine Crest could be,” he said. “K through eight was a wonderful experience, but grades nine through 12 were when our kids truly grew up.”

Through David’s service as a trustee, the Kantors gained a deeper understanding of Pine Crest’s leadership, planning and commitment to excellence. “I saw how intentionally the school operates,” he said. “I felt it was a meaningful investment.”

Entrepreneurship as a Way of Thinking

The Kantor Family Venture Catalyst builds on Pine Crest’s belief that students learn best when ideas are connected to action. Entrepreneurship is not limited to business creation. It is a mindset that fosters curiosity, resilience and ethical leadership.

“We’ve been a family of entrepreneurs for generations,” Leslie said. “The opportunity for more students to learn this way is so important.” David emphasized the value of perseverance.

“Part of life is failing,” David said. “If you can’t learn to fail, you’re never going to make it. Part of entrepreneurship is failing and learning how to grow from it.” Through exploration, reflection and real-world practice, students develop the confidence and skills needed to lead with purpose.

Learning Through Mentorship and Connection

At the heart of the Catalyst is a commitment to learning through relationships and shared experience. Through the Angel Advisor model, alumni serve as mentors and partners in the venture-building process, offering guidance shaped by both success and failure.
“These connections are incredibly powerful,” Leslie said. “It’s about giving back.”

Advisors help students refine ideas, strengthen pitches and gain insight into professional pathways. They also open doors to internships and immersive experiences. For David, this reflects a deeper responsibility. “No one succeeds on their own,” he said. “Now it’s your turn, as Pine Crest alumni, to lift up the next generation.” These relationships strengthen Pine Crest’s culture of partnership and prepare students to lead with humility and confidence.

Designed for Impact, Everywhere and Nowhere

From the beginning, David and Leslie envisioned a gift that would strengthen Pine Crest’s entire entrepreneurship ecosystem and expand access for students.
 
Their investment supports a new Honors Entrepreneurship course, additional faculty, expanded coaching through the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and structured learning opportunities beyond the classroom. The Catalyst also establishes a Student Venture Fund and provides professional-grade tools and prototyping resources. These allow students to move from ideas to viable ventures in a safe-to-fail environment. “We wanted this gift to create opportunity,” Leslie shared. “To help students take their ideas seriously and explore them fully.” By investing in people, programs and learning experiences, the Kantors have helped create a flexible, future-ready model that grows alongside student interests and emerging industries.

A Legacy for the Future

For the Kantors, success will be measured by lasting influence.

“Twenty years from now, we hope someone returns and says, ‘I developed my entrepreneurial mindset here,’” said David. “And now I want to give back.”
As Pine Crest continues to lead in innovative and applied learning, the Kantor Family Venture Catalyst stands as a powerful example of what is possible when generosity, trust and shared purpose come together.

It reflects the Kantors’ extraordinary partnership with Pine Crest and a lasting investment in our students and our community.