William Harris Investors, Inc.

William Harris Investors, Inc., a family-based, professional asset management firm with more than $1 billion in capital under management, oversees a broad array of investment strategies, both direct and indirect, ranging from direct venture capital, private and public equities, and real estate, to indirect investments with external third party hedge fund, private equity, and real estate managers.

In addition, WHI is responsible for addressing its individual advisory clients’ fixed income and cash management objectives. The overall investment goal of WHI’s asset allocation model is to achieve long-term, attractive risk-adjusted returns over various market cycles. In the pursuit of these ends, WHI strives to maintain the highest levels of integrity, loyalty, and excellence among its employees. WHI has created a very stable culture, and the business and personal relationships among WHI’s principals extend back more than 20 years.

In its capacity as a registered investment adviser, WHI provides its clients with a broad range of professional services, ranging from those of investment management and asset allocation to personal financial planning and cash management to accounting, administrative, tax preparation, and philanthropic services.

WHI employs over 15 seasoned investment professionals and a support staff of approximately 40 people. These individuals have diverse backgrounds with varied expertise in a broad array of industries and investment disciplines.

WHI is a registered investment adviser formed in 1987 for the purpose of managing the financial affairs and assets of the Irving B. Harris family. However, WHI accepts non-family accounts where financial and philosophical goals are well aligned with those of the firm.

Irving Harris Foundation

The Irving Harris Foundation was established in 1946. The primary objective of the Foundation is to make grants to programs that support policies, research and organizations that focus on issues pertaining to early childhood development, including child and family programs and policies. In addition to its support of child development, the Foundation contributes to a variety of causes in the areas of the arts, humanities, education and culture, including grantees across disciplines of dance, literature, media, music and theater.

Biography of Irving B. Harris

Irving B. Harris, a corporate leader and noted philanthropist, is also noted for developing programs which address the comprehensive needs of infants, toddlers and their families, and promoting training for professionals who work with this population. He was instrumental in conceptualizing and establishing such well-respected institutions as the Erikson Institute and the Ounce of Prevention Fund, as well as the highly ambitious Beethoven Project, which have served as models for the development of training and service programs across the country, including 500 Early Head Start programs in the United States. Mr. Harris also endowed the Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago. During his lifetime, his vision and leadership earned him appointments to the National Commission on Children and the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young Children. Mr. Harris passed away in September 2004. He was 94 years old.

Occupation/Employment: Businessman; Chairman of the Board of The Irving Harris Foundation and Director of the Acorn Fund (formerly Chairman of the Board from 1970-2001). Until its sale to Honeywell in 2001, he was Chairman of the Executive Committee of Pittway Corporation. He was also Chairman of William Harris Investors, Inc. from 1986-2001. He was for 10 years Chairman and President of Channel 11 and before that was Chairman of Harriscope Broadcasting, which owned an equity interest in Channel 44 in Chicago.

Affiliations: Founder and Board Member of the Ounce of Prevention Fund and the Erikson Institute; Board Member of Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families; Life Trustee of the University of Chicago.

Learn More About Irving Harris

Irving B. Harris, Philanthropist - University of Chicago
Tribute to Irving B. Harris - Congressional Record
Erikson Institute Presents Honorary Doctorates
The Passionate Investments of Irving B. Harris - Zero to Three

Affiliations

The Harris School of Public Policy - University of Chicago
The Erikson Institute
Harris Theater
Ounce of Prevention
Zero to Three