Rob is the founder of Hedge Funds Care/Help For Children (HFC). In late 1998 Rob conceived of the idea of raising money in the hedge fund/alternative investment industry, and making grants to organizations dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. The first event that Rob organized in February 1999, attracted more than 400 people, raised close to $450,000.00 and resulted in grants to four outstanding programs dedicated to saving children from the trauma of abuse. It was such a great party and first of its kind, industry networking event, that many people urged Rob to do it again the following year.
Fast forward to 2018, there are active global affiliates in London, Hong Kong, Toronto, Grand Cayman, & Dublin, plus U.S. branches in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Denver & Atlanta, with another brewing in L.A. Each branch has a “Committee of Hearts” comprised of industry professionals who donate their time to raise funds from multiple events in their area. These funds are granted to organizations focused on the HFC mission in the respective communities.
To assure the funds raised were most effectively deployed, Rob innovated the approach of working with the leading graduate level, school of social work in each branch community (starting with Columbia University in NY), to identify the strongest programs to give grants to, and then evaluate how effectively the funds are put to use. Today, HFC has that relationship in all branches.
By the end of 2018, HFC will have granted more than $55million, through more than 1,000 grants, touching thousands of lives. In recent years, programs funded by HFC affiliates and branches have provided clinical treatment to more than 8,000 children, and prevention programs designed for children, parents, police, teachers and others, addressed more than 40,000 individuals annually.
Rob is now Chairman Emeritus and continues to have a seat on the HFC Board of Directors. He remains actively involved and committed to the HFC mission, taking every opportunity to spread the word about the Foundation and its mission.
In addition, Rob is a Managing Director of McAlinden Research Partners, an independent investment strategy research firm, as well as a singer/songwriter, cabaret performer (music & videos found at www.robdavis.com & www.youtube.com/robdavismusic ) and author. Rob resides in Manhattan, helped to raise five children now all grown and healthy, and at last count has nine, beautiful grandchildren and first great grandchild, a baby-boy named Jameson.