Marie Josée Kravis and her husband KKR co-founder Henry Kravis are major figures in American philanthropy. In 2008, Marie and Henry Kravis gave $75 million in contributions to noteworthy causes. The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s roster has profiled them as the 25th highest ranking individuals, and they have also been noted by The Philanthropy 50: Americans Who Gave the Most in 2008. Marie Josee has been cited by The New York magazine as one of The Influentials in Philanthropy.

The innumerable people who have benefited from Marie Josée Kravis’ unselfishness continue to grow in number. Among the recipients of her gifts is the Mount Sinai Medical Center, which received a cumulative amount of over $30 million, around half of which helped finance Dr. Valentin Fuster’s Heart Institute.

As an active patron of the arts, she is the incumbent president of the Museum of Modern Art’s board of directors. She has long been one of the New York museum’s prominent trustees since 1998. Marie-Josée is also affiliated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to which she recently donated $10 million.

Marie Josee Kravis also sits on the board of the Robin Hood Foundation where she is co-chair. The extensive list of board memberships she has held in the past include Ford Motor Company, Interactive Data Corporation, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Vivendi Universal, CIBC, Hollinger International and Hasbro.

A member of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, she is an influential member of its International Advisory Board. Marie Josée Kravis has been recognized as a recipient of a number of esteemed awards such as the French Legion d’Honneur (2006) and Officer of the Order of Canada (1994).

Ottawa, Montreal-born Marie-Josée Drouin’s birth date is September 11, 1949. She graduated in 1973 with a master’s degree in economics from the University of Ottawa. Her career began with the Hudson Institute, where she quickly rose in its ranks. From an executive committee’s trustee, she became senior fellow in 1973, and executive director for Canada from 1976-1994.

A columnist as well, her articles have been regularly published in the Montreal Gazette, Canada’s Financial Post and La Presse. Marie-Josée has also contributed to the distinguished financial authority Wall Street Journal.