1997 Kent Swig presents Israel Bonds Honoree Award to Stuart Romanoff at the New Leadership Luncheon

While his business life sees him at the helm of a number of real estate firms, including Swig Equities, Brown Harris Stevens, and Halstead Property, Kent Swig also extends his talents into the charitable and civic spheres, as evidenced by his relationship with the Israel Bonds organization.

Israel Bonds have been a vital source of funding for economic projects in the State of Israel since Prime Minister David Ben Gurion first conceived of them; over the years, revenue from the bonds has financed The National Water Carrier, the Dead Sea Works, port construction, and the development of alternative energy resources.

In 2003, the State of Israel Bonds’ Real Estate and Construction Division awarded Kent Swig the Israel Peace Medal. The ensuing luncheon at the Pierre, at which Swig was the sole honoree, raised more than $78.5 million in bond sales, making it among the most profitable single-honoree events in the organization’s history. Swig was presented the medal by his then father-in-law Harry Macklowe of Macklowe Properties, and by MTA Chairman Peter S. Kalikow of H.J. Kalikow & Co.

Joshua Matza, president and CEO of Israel Bonds since 2002 and eighteen-year member of the Israeli Knesset, spoke at Swig’s 2003 luncheon, along with a number of notable personalities from the real estate community.