Who We Are
A private family foundation with a focus on national and global impact
Pathways to Opportunity
In a world where trust and hope are diminishing within communities in the U.S. and around the globe, the Hejl Foundation is reimagining how philanthropy collaborates with grantees and communities to tackle some of the world’s most significant problems. The foundation believes that people can accomplish anything with opportunity and encouragement.
As we move forward in a changing world, the foundation and its partners work to broaden pathways to opportunity and remove barriers in their way. We focus on building strong partnerships and fostering innovation. The foundation operates in four program areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Health, and Policy & Advocacy, each aimed at creating sustainable, positive change.
Enduring Change
The Hejl Foundation works towards a future where people can lead healthy, productive, and inspiring lives. We strongly advocate for everyone's right to access the tools essential for success. While we don't ensure direct success, our goal is to equip individuals with the resources necessary to achieve their goals.
In embracing this challenge, we are driven by a vision to create a world where individuals and communities can realize their full potential and actively engage in shaping decisions that impact not only themselves but also the broader society.
Excellence and Integrity
Respect, constructive dialogue, and innovative leadership are fundamental to our culture.
We strive to model openness and transparency and uphold accountability within the foundation—to our charter, the sector, supported organizations, broader society, and the laws governing our family foundation status.
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Rooted
in the places we work and in building a lasting family legacy of giving back.
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Commited
to our focused strategy for effecting enduring and transformative change.
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Open
about who we are and to ideas that challenge what’s possible and in tackling big, complex problems.
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Engaged
in collaborating with grantees and empowering individuals to actively shape their own futures.
Board Of Directors
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Jakub Hejl
Chairman & Director -
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Carolina Hejl
Vice Chairman & Director -
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George Corton
Director
Jakub Hejl
Chairman & Director
Jakub Hejl is the Chairman and Director of the Hejl Foundation, which oversees his personal philanthropy. In this role, he shapes and approves foundation strategies, advocates for the foundation’s issues, and sets the organization’s overall direction. He works with grantees and partners to further the foundation’s goal of improving equity in the United States and around the world.
Raised in Florida, Mr. Hejl is a business entrepreneur who founded Westside Capital Group, a real estate investment firm based in Miami, FL. With a wealth of experience in real estate transactions, Mr. Hejl has successfully navigated transactions exceeding $4 billion in total value across various types in both the United States and Europe.
Mr. Hejl graduated with honors from the University of Miami School of Business, earning a business degree in Finance and Real Estate with a concentration in Economics. He is also an alumnus of the Hyperion Council, a charitable initiative led by the Dean of the School of Business at the University of Miami, dedicated to supporting underprivileged communities in the US and abroad. Additionally, he is a member of the University of Miami President’s Council and the Wolfsonian Advisory Board. Apart from his professional pursuits, Mr. Hejl has a keen interest in sports and politics.
Mr. Hejl was born in Prague, Czech Republic, but grew up in Florida. He currently resides in Miami, FL with his wife and three children.
Carolina Hejl
Vice Chairman & Director
Carolina Hejl is the Vice Chairman and Director of the Hejl Foundation, overseeing her personal philanthropy. In her role, she shapes and approves the organization’s strategies and overall direction, reviews results, and collaborates with grantees and partners to advance the foundation’s mission of working towards a future where people can lead healthy, productive, and inspiring lives in the United States and globally. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and serves as Vice President of the foundation’s board of directors.
Born and raised in New York City, Mrs. Hejl is a fashion entrepreneur who founded Kolane, a luxury shoe brand made in Italy, in 2022. Prior to founding Kolane, Mrs. Hejl worked as a UX designer and strategist for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where she played a key role in conceptualizing and crafting digital experiences, helping global brands in the fashion and finance sectors expand their capacity for impact.
She holds a BS in marketing and communications from Fairfield University as well as a Textile Development Degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). She currently resides in Miami with her husband and three children.
George Corton
Director
George Corton is the Director at the Hejl Foundation, where he leads the strategy team for Vice Chairman and Director Carolina Hejl and advises teams across program areas, operations, and finance on the development and execution of their strategies. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and serves as President of the foundation’s board of directors, where he oversees the foundation's four program areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Health, and Policy & Advocacy.
George Corton is a distinguished philanthropist, fundraiser, and leader with over 20 years of experience. Before joining the foundation, George served as the Chief Development Officer at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL. He led a team of 36 development professionals, achieving record-breaking fundraising results, including the largest alumni gift in FIU history—a donation exceeding $10 million from alumnus Chad Moss to name the Moss School of Construction, Infrastructure, and Sustainability. He also played a key role in founding the historic CasaCuba initiative, a Cuban cultural heritage center at FIU.
George serves on various nonprofit boards, including the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and the FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Executive Advisory Board. He has been honored by the American Cancer Society and named a “Top Latino Leader” at the National Latino Leadership Conference. George’s dedication to philanthropy and education continues to make a significant impact on the communities he serves.
Mr. Corton earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in business from Florida International University.
Executive Leadership
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Carrie Schramek
Treasurer -
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Eric Reisman
Secretary -
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Carolina Hejl
Vice President -
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George Corton
President
Carrie Schramek
Treasurer
Carrie Schramek is the Hejl Foundation’s Treasurer. Based in Tampa, FL, she provides strategic and sound financial and operational leadership for the foundation, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, risk and assurance, enterprise business management, as well as oversight of the strategy and planning functions. This role ensures that the foundation's resources are allocated wisely to maximize the impact of its investments and people across all strategies, functions, geographies, and operations.
In addition to her role at the foundation, Mrs. Schramek is the Vice President of Finance at Westside Capital Group, where she manages financial operations and leads value enhancement processes for multifamily properties valued at over $700 million across the region. Prior to her position at Westside Capital Group, she worked as a Controller at Franklin Street's Tampa office, managing accounting for multifamily, commercial, office, and industrial properties.
Mrs. Schramek holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. Her expertise and leadership are invaluable to the Hejl Foundation in fulfilling its mission.
Eric Reisman
Secretary
Eric Reisman leads the Hejl Foundation’s legal team and is responsible for managing the overall legal affairs and activities related to the foundation and its affiliate organizations. In this role, he advises the foundation’s trustees, CEO, senior leadership, and staff on legal issues, is a member of the Executive Leadership Team, and serves as corporate secretary to the foundation’s board of directors. Mr. Reisman's responsibilities include managing legal affairs, governance, conflict of interest issues, and legal risk management.
In addition to his role at the foundation, Mr. Reisman serves as the General Counsel and Principal of Westside Capital Group. In this role, he provides comprehensive legal and operational counsel to key personnel and manages all legal aspects of the company. Prior to his position at Westside, Eric was the Managing Director and Senior Legal Counsel at Waypoint Residential, a private equity national multifamily developer, owner, and operator. At Waypoint, he advised the CEO, COO, and other executive team members, overseeing the entire legal operations of the company.
Mr. Reisman earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University.
Carolina Hejl
Vice President
Carolina Hejl is the Vice Chairman and Director of the Hejl Foundation, overseeing her personal philanthropy. In her role, she shapes and approves the organization’s strategies and overall direction, reviews results, and collaborates with grantees and partners to advance the foundation’s mission of working towards a future where people can lead healthy, productive, and inspiring lives in the United States and globally. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and serves as Vice President of the foundation’s board of directors.
Born and raised in New York City, Mrs. Hejl is a fashion entrepreneur who founded Kolane, a luxury shoe brand made in Italy, in 2022. Prior to founding Kolane, Mrs. Hejl worked as a UX designer and strategist for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where she played a key role in conceptualizing and crafting digital experiences, helping global brands in the fashion and finance sectors expand their capacity for impact.
She holds a BS in marketing and communications from Fairfield University as well as a Textile Development Degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). She currently resides in Miami with her husband and three children.
George Corton
President
George Corton is the Director at the Hejl Foundation, where he leads the strategy team for Vice Chairman and Director Carolina Hejl and advises teams across program areas, operations, and finance on the development and execution of their strategies. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and serves as President of the foundation’s board of directors, where he oversees the foundation's four program areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Health, and Policy & Advocacy.
George Corton is a distinguished philanthropist, fundraiser, and leader with over 20 years of experience. Before joining the foundation, George served as the Chief Development Officer at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL. He led a team of 36 development professionals, achieving record-breaking fundraising results, including the largest alumni gift in FIU history—a donation exceeding $10 million from alumnus Chad Moss to name the Moss School of Construction, Infrastructure, and Sustainability. He also played a key role in founding the historic CasaCuba initiative, a Cuban cultural heritage center at FIU.
George serves on various nonprofit boards, including the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and the FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Executive Advisory Board. He has been honored by the American Cancer Society and named a “Top Latino Leader” at the National Latino Leadership Conference. George’s dedication to philanthropy and education continues to make a significant impact on the communities he serves.
Mr. Corton earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in business from Florida International University.