Seeds of Peace is proud to honor Jay Snyder at our 30th Anniversary Gala on October 25 in New York.
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Jay Snyder has an expansive career in philanthropy, public service, and business, working throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
In 2009, Snyder founded the Open Hands Initiative (OHI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to public diplomacy. Connecting young leaders and underserved communities across the developing world, OHI has conducted people-to-people exchange programs in Colombia, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Myanmar, and Syria, fostering mutual understanding in the areas of journalism, women’s entrepreneurship, health equity, conflict resolution, and disability rights.
Among Snyder’s many nonprofit activities, he serves on Georgetown University’s College Board of Advisors, the USC Center for Public Diplomacy Advisory Board, and the Beatrice Snyder Foundation, which supports a diverse range of cultural and educational charities, including the Clinton Foundation, Global Health Corps, NYU Langone, and The Public Theater. He served as the Co-President of the American Friends of the London Philharmonia Orchestra. Snyder also supports refugee work by Choose Love and is a National Council member of Welcome.US.
Snyder has served in both federal and state government appointments. President Clinton named him U.S. Representative to the 55th United Nations General Assembly. Snyder was also selected to be a member of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. In service to his home state, Snyder was appointed as a Commissioner on the New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform in June 2005, as established by Governor George E. Pataki.
Snyder is also Principal of HBJ Investments, SL Ventures, and Butternut Partners, firms specializing in private and venture capital investments. He serves as a Consultant and an Observer to the board on numerous startups and growth-phase companies. Previously, he was an executive at Biocraft Laboratories. Snyder is married and has three sons.