LEGACY
DEAN WITTER, WILLIAM D. WITTER, MICHAEL D. WITTER
Dean Witter, founder of Dean Witter, & Company in 1924, built a firm with a strong adherence to principles of doing what was best to build wealth for families and individuals who had little experience with investing in the stock market. Hiring young talent, he was disciplined by the morals and ethics of recognizing and instilling the importance of building a good reputation. During a time when purchasing bonds/equities was an opportunity relatively out of reach for the everyday American, Dean Witter took it upon himself to sell shares of stocks and bonds door to door. Thousands got their start on Wall Street at Dean Witter which helped revolutionize an entire industry.
Dean Witter was able to provide for his siblings and cousins, and create job opportunities for thousands of employees with the business he built. He had three children, and it was last born son, Bill Witter (William D. Witter, father of Michael D. Witter), who would do the same for his siblings, extended family and friends.
Bill Witter moved to New York to run the Dean Witter offices. Subsequently, he would start his own firm, William D. Witter, Inc., and buy a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. In 1977 Bill Witter forayed into small-cap investing. This asset category was still undiscovered by the masses and like Dean Witter, Bill sought to fill a void. Bill Witter saw the profit upside of investing in companies that were unloved and were essentially as inaccessible as private equity investments at the time. With that risk, Bill Witter made outsized returns for the family members, friends and clients who invested with him.
Michael D. Witter, like his father and grandfather, started his career in the investment industry. Before he realized that philanthropy was his true passion, Michael was one of the top performing portfolio managers in their small-cap growth strategy.
MICHAEL D. WITTER’S COMMITMENT TO PHILANTHROPY
Michael D. Witter is carrying on the tradition of philanthropy of his father and grandfather. Like his grandfather, Michael is a vigilant wildlife conservationist and endeavors to raise awareness through protecting habitat and preservation of wetlands and endangered species. Michael D. Witter also supports charitable organizations with a focus on military, education and wildlife conservation. Military causes with a focus on veteran rehabilitation, preservation of American history, and the fostering of relations between allied forces are also close to Michael’s heart. The educational foundations that Michael and Sherry started provide both undergraduate and continuing education scholarships. Along with his wife, Sherry P. Witter, who manages the investments and the operations of the Witter Family Offices, they have formed and funded family foundations to support their priority causes, and the needs of the existing nonprofit organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Witter consider it a privilege to share their devotion to philanthropy.
MICHAEL D. WITTER’S COMMITMENT TO PHILANTHROPY
Michael D. Witter is carrying on the tradition of philanthropy of his father and grandfather. Like his grandfather, Michael is a vigilant wildlife conservationist and endeavors to raise awareness through protecting habitat and preservation of wetlands and endangered species. Michael D. Witter also supports charitable organizations with a focus on military, education and wildlife conservation. Military causes with a focus on veteran rehabilitation, preservation of American history, and the fostering of relations between allied forces are also close to Michael’s heart. The educational foundations that Michael and Sherry started provide both undergraduate and continuing education scholarships. Along with his wife, Sherry P. Witter, who manages the investments and the operations of the Witter Family Offices, they have formed and funded family foundations to support their priority causes, and the needs of the existing nonprofit organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Witter consider it a privilege to share their devotion to philanthropy.