Gary Landwirth

President
Giving Ideas

Gary Landwirth has been actively involved in all facets of philanthropy for 35 years, including executive leadership, consultation, and funding for nonprofit organizations.

Gary was the President and Founder of A Gift For Teaching, a non-profit organization that gathers surplus resources from businesses and individuals and offers them at no charge to Central Florida schoolteachers for use in their classrooms to benefit school children in need. Since opening in 1998, A Gift For Teaching has provided over $200 million worth of supplies to students in low-income area schools.

Gary also founded A Gift For Music, a partnership with the University of Central Florida and Walt Disney World Co. that provides after school classical music strings programs to students enrolled in inner city elementary schools. Violins, violas, and cellos are provided along with high quality instruction to these economically disadvantaged students. Over 10,000 students have taken part in A Gift For Music since 1999, with many students graduating from the program to pursue musical careers.

Prior to these programs, Gary worked in executive capacities with Give Kids The World and the Florida Audubon Society in Orlando. Throughout his career, he has served as a board member for numerous nonprofit organizations, and served for five years on the Executive Committee of the Donor's Forum of Central Florida.

Gary currently serves on the board of Give Kids The World, and previously served as a board member of the Fanny Landwirth Foundation, a family foundation started by his father to honor and remember his mother Fanny, who perished in the Holocaust.

In 2006, Gary developed Giving Ideas, a consulting practice working with nonprofits and focusing on leadership topics including Executive Transition and Succession Planning, Organizational Assessment, Board Development, Nonprofit Sustainability, and Organizational Planning. He also serves as a "core consultant" for Western North Carolina Nonprofit Pathways, a support organization for nonprofit organizations in the region.

Gary received his B.A. from Wake Forest University and his veterinary degree at the University of Florida. He practiced small animal medicine and surgery for six years prior to his work with nonprofit organizations.

Gary resides in Asheville, NC with his wife, Theresa and their dog Olivia.