Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) New York Metro pays tribute to the late Jim Simons, who passed away at the age of 86 earlier this year. Jim Simons was co-founder of the Marilyn & Jim Simons Foundation, a major donor to the RMHC New York Metro Capital Campaign.
Jim Simons leaves behind an astonishing legacy of philanthropy and support for sick children and families. The Marilyn and Jim Simons Foundation is the largest donor towards the Capital Campaign for a Ronald McDonald House in Stony Brook. Through their foundation, Marilyn and Jim personally invested $6 million towards the $30 million Campaign in recent years. Now in its public phase, the Campaign is nearing completion with Suffolk County’s first Ronald McDonald House slated to open in 2027.
Jim Simons’ profound interest in supporting the scientific community was only matched by his love for humanity. Marilyn and Jim Simons together championed Ronald McDonald House Charities and understood that family-centered care was at the heart of our mission.
“In Marilyn and Jim Simons, we found a profoundly important partnership,” said Matt Campo, CEO of RMHC New York Metro. “MJS Foundation’s gift made it possible for our organization to grow to meet the needs of more families across Long Island. We mourn the passing of Jim Simons and pay tribute to his life’s work in science, mathematics, and philanthropy.”
As RMHC announced plans to grow its care programs on Long Island, Marilyn and Jim Simons saw an opportunity to create healing environments for families as an extension of their support for Stony Brook University. Ronald McDonald House would be built adjacent to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, a place of great significance to them both.
In a 2016 speech at MIT, Jim Simons expressed his five guiding principles in life:
- Do something new; don’t run with the pack
- Surround yourself with the smartest people you can find
- Be guided by beauty
- Don’t give up easily
- Hope for good luck
In Jim Simons’ legacy, we continue championing family-centered care by investing in local families dealing with a pediatric medical crisis. Through our strong partnership with Stony Brook Children’s, we plot a path forward, fueled by our shared vision to create a world where every family has what they need to ensure the best health outcomes for their children.