Raymond G. Chambers (born August 7, 1942) is a philanthropist and humanitarian who is theWorld Health Organization Ambassador for Global Strategy. Chambers' philanthropic efforts are diverse, with major focus areas in global health, mentoring, and revitalizing his home city ofNewark, New Jersey.
Born and raised in the West Ward of Newark, Chambers attendedWest Side High School.[1]
Chambers studied atRutgers University–Newark, where he was a member ofTau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and earned anMBA degree fromSeton Hall University in 1968.[2]
Chambers is the former chairman ofWesray Capital Corporation, aprivate equity holding company that he co-founded withWilliam E. Simon, the formerUnited States Secretary of the Treasury. The "WES" in the firm's name represented Simon's initials and "RAY" was for Chamber's first name.[3] Their first big coup was theleveraged buyout ofGibson Greetings fromRCA in 1981 for $80 million, with each partner contributing $330,000 and the balance paid for with loans. After taking Gibson public in 1984, each partner walked away with a profit exceeding $70 million.[4]
After Simon ended his active involvement in the firm's management, Chambers was responsible for deals including the 1985 purchase ofAvis Rent a Car System, which was sold 14 months later to anemployee stock ownership plan for $1.75 billion along with the sale of other Avis assets for $674 million, netting a profit of $740 million on a $10 million capital outlay.[5]
Chambers and Wesray were early investors in buyout firmVestar Capital Partners, investing in the first Vestar fund in 1988.[6]
Chambers has played an active role in revitalizing Newark, working with organizations and schools throughout the city, including in the West Ward where he grew up. He is a longtime supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, which he had belonged to as a child in the 1950s. He has funded college educations for hundreds of Newark public school students served by the Club.
Chambers was the founding chairman of theNew Jersey Performing Arts Center, helping obtain contributions from local corporations and contributing his own money, with the goal of creating a cultural center for Newark modeled afterNew York City'sLincoln Center andWashington, D.C.'sJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
As a partner inYankeeNets, Chambers played a critical role in bringing theNew Jersey Devils to what is now thePrudential Center, with YankeeNets contributing $105 million to construct the publicly owned facility. Chambers' name was engraved on the Stanley Cup as president of 2003 New Jersey Devils[2] Chambers was an early supporter of U.S. senatorCory Booker, helping to convince him that he had a future in politics.[7]
In February 2008, the Secretary-General of the United Nations appointed Chambers as his first Special Envoy for Malaria.[8] During his tenure, visibility, awareness, and funding for malaria each increased exponentially, contributing to the distribution of more than 1 billion life-saving mosquito nets to sub-Saharan Africa and averting more than 6.2 million malaria-related deaths, most of which were children under five years of age.
In February 2013, the Secretary-General expanded Chambers’ mandate as his first Special Envoy for Financing the HealthMillennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the internationally agreed set of humanitarian targets.[9] Chambers worked with key funding partners—including governments, financial institutions and the private sector—to secure adequate resources to provide the essential supplies, delivery mechanisms, systems support and measurement tools needed to attain the health MDGs. In addition to his Special Envoy role, Chambers served as one of the UN Secretary-General's MDG Advocates.
With the adoption of theSustainable Development Goals, Chambers was appointed by the Secretary-General as his Special Envoy for Health in Agenda 2030. In this role he was tasked with catalyzing efforts and commitments required for the successful implementation of the health-related goals in Agenda 2030—which included ending the epidemics ofAIDS,tuberculosis (TB), and malaria.
In 2018, Chambers transitioned his focus to supporting the World Health Organization (WHO), the specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. The WHO Director-General Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appointed Chambers as the WHO Ambassador for Global Strategy[10] to advise him in mobilizing the international community to advance the global health agenda. Regarding Chambers’ appointment, Dr. Tedros said: “Ray Chambers is a giant of public health who understands as well as anyone the critical need to prioritize the health and wellbeing of all people on the planet.”
Chambers was a member of thePresident's Council on Service and Civic Participation. He is the Founding Chairman of thePoints of Light Foundation and co-foundedAmerica's Promise Alliance withColin Powell. Chambers is also the co-founder of theMENTOR / National Mentoring Partnership and served as Chairman of theMillennium Promise Alliance. WithPeter Chernin, he co-foundedMalaria No More and served as its co-chairman until being named UN Special Envoy for Malaria.
In 1993, Chambers received the Golden Plate Award of theAmerican Academy of Achievement.[11]
In 2002, Chambers received theWilliam E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership.[12]
In December 2008, President Bush recognized Chambers with thePresidential Citizens Medal for his work helping children worldwide through the fight against malaria.[13]
In April 2011, Chambers was named byTime magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.[14]
Chambers was a 2014New Jersey Hall of Fame inductee.
Chambers has been awarded honorary degrees fromBrown University, theUniversity of Notre Dame, andAmerican University.
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