Giving From the Heart: Philanthropists Irina and George Schaeffer

George Schaeffer was 9 years old when he and parents Rose and Emery Schaeffer—both Holocaust survivors—emigrated from Hungary to America to start a new life. The next summer, the enterprising young boy was selling eggs from the back of a truck for 25 cents a dozen. He’s been in business ever since, and the road forward has been more rewarding than he ever could have imagined.

Schaeffer and his wife, Irina—entrepreneurs and philanthropists—are longtime Cedars-Sinai supporters. They give from the heart, for the heart. Over the last 15 years, the couple has donated $20 million to Cedars-Sinai’s Smidt Heart Institute. In 1996, George underwent a quadruple bypass at the medical center, performed by Director Emeritus of Thoracic Surgery, Alfredo Trento, MD, who is also vice chair of Outreach and Business Development in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, and the Estelle, Abe and Marjorie Sanders Chair in Cardiac Surgery.

“That was 28 years ago, and the plumbing is still good,” said Schaeffer, who, along with his wife, owns and operates People’s Trust Insurance Company in Florida and Aloxxi International Corporation, a beauty brand in Los Angeles. He’s also the founder and former owner of OPI nail products.

“Cedars-Sinai treated me very well and, more importantly, contributed to my longevity,” added Schaeffer. In fact, he said the surgery saved his life and compelled him to make “a little bit of a contribution.” That transformative $10 million gift, made in 2011, named the George W. Schaeffer Lobby inside what would become the Susanne and Ervin Bard Pavilion at Cedars-Sinai. The pavilion houses Smidt Heart Institute as well as the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center.

In 2019, the Schaeffers donated another $7 million to create the Irina and George Schaeffer Cardiothoracic Surgery Fund and $3 million to establish the Irina and George Schaeffer Distinguished Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery in honor of Alfredo Trento, MD, held by Joanna Chikwe, MD, chair of Cardiac Surgery at Cedars-Sinai. The Schaeffers also donate to medical centers across Southern California and causes around the world, including a hospital and underground emergency shelter in Haifa, Israel.

When asked why he gives so generously, Schaeffer replied, “America has given me and my family so much, and this may sound corny, but this is my and Irina’s way of saying ‘thank you’ to the greatest country in the world.”

“The Schaeffers exemplify selfless and visionary giving, and the Cedars-Sinai family and the patients we serve are so grateful for their many contributions to advance heart care and research,” said Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, senior vice president of Advancement and chief advancement officer for Cedars-Sinai.

“I’m very happy when I can change somebody’s life for the better, not only through better healthcare, but other life experiences as well,” said Schaeffer, who routinely awards scholarships and computers to employees and their children. “Irina and I feel that education is the key to a better quality of life that is, sadly, beyond the reach of many families.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Planned Giving—An Enduring Legacy