ABOUT
The Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation is a Vancouver, BC-based charity established in 1962 to support the local causes and concerns its founders cared about. Today, the Foundation continues to advance the priorities that inspired the Hechts in their lifetimes, through:
- MEDICAL RESEARCH & PRACTICE, particularly innovative approaches to treating cancer.
- ECONOMIC EDUCATION that explains free market principles and their relationship to individual freedom and flourishing.
- The compassionate relief of poverty by providing BASIC NECESSITIES to people in need.
The Hecht Foundation also supports other community benefits, including built HERITAGE education & preservation.
Originally from Germany and Austria, Lotte Irene Loew and John Rolf Hecht met in Winnipeg during the Second World War and were married in Vancouver in 1945. Having identified a niche market in custom cutting, they purchased a sawmill on Mitchell Island and worked in shifts to supervise the 24-hour operation, eventually establishing Associated Fuels as a vehicle for the wood by-products. Surplus funds were reinvested in the company. Beginning with the 525 Seymour building, they acquired commercial and residential properties throughout Vancouver, creating one of the largest privately held real estate investment companies in Western Canada. Among the Hechts’ most prized acquisitions, the Rogers Building and Vancouver Block are now recognized as significant historical properties.
In 1962, the Hechts established The 1945 Foundation, quietly supporting many charitable groups in Vancouver. A particular area of focus was economic education that emphasized the importance of free market principles and the Austrian School of Economics.
Following their deaths – Lotte Hecht died in 1983 and John Hecht in 1988 – the residuals of their estates were bequeathed to the Foundation with the express purpose of continuing to carry out their charitable objectives. In 1993 the Foundation’s name was changed to “Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation” as a continuing tribute to their generosity.
FUNDING
Requests for funding are considered on an invitation-only basis. Specific deadlines and eligibility criteria vary according to funding priority. General inquiries may be submitted to info [at] hecht.org.
Learn more about the Foundation’s program streams below:
The Hecht Foundation holds three funding cycles per year and considers medical research and practice applications on an invitation-only basis. To learn more about funding eligibility, please review the guidelines at FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
The foundation also supports a biennial prize in the fields of alternative, complementary, and integrative healthcare. To learn more, please visit the DR. ROGERS PRIZE website.
The Hecht Foundation holds three funding cycles per year and considers economic education applications on an invitation-only basis. To learn more about funding eligibility, please review the guidelines at FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
The Hecht Foundation provides operational support to organizations that provide basic necessities across the province, including:
- Covenant House Vancouver
- Kelowna’s Gospel Mission
- Our Place Society
- Salvation Army – BC Division
- Saint Vincent de Paul – Prince George
- Union Gospel Mission
New requests for funding are not being accepted at this time.
The Hechts had an admiration for Vancouver’s historical buildings and actively preserved the heritage character of their office buildings in accordance to their historic significance. The Foundation continues to provide ongoing heritage preservation of the Rogers Building and Vancouver Block, including maintenance and restoration of its landmark clock tower.
In recognition of the Hechts’ appreciation for the city’s heritage, the Foundation celebrates the architectural and cultural significance of historic properties across Vancouver by promoting events and educational opportunities, including tours and workshops. Requests for sponsorship of educational events may be emailed to heritage [at] hecht.org.
Learn more about the history and significance of the Vancouver Block and its ongoing restoration at VancouverBlock.org.
CONTACT
Alena Levitz
Executive Director
Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation
502 – 325 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 1Z7
Canada
Tel: 604.683.7575
Fax: 604.683.7580
Email: info [at] hecht.org