Rosa Dembitzer
Rosa Dembitzer is a philanthropist and co-founder of the Northern Charitable Foundation (NCF), an organization dedicated to improving public health and supporting disadvantaged groups in the United States and Israel. Born and raised in San José, Costa Rica, Rosa graduated from the University of Chicago in 1988 with a degree in Economics. She later earned a master’s degree in Environmental Planning from Pratt Institute and is certified as a LEED Green Associate.
After her diagnosis with breast cancer and discovery of being BRCA1 positive, Rosa also faced ovarian cancer. Following her recovery, she dedicated herself to raising awareness about hereditary cancers and managing NCF’s initiatives. Under her leadership, NCF established the “Prevention GENEration” program in collaboration with the Israel Cancer Association and the Israel Genetics Consortium, aiming to increase testing and awareness for breast and ovarian cancer.
Rosa and her husband, Alex Dembitzer, founded NCF in 2007 alongside Jacqueline Fried. The foundation focuses on public health initiatives, including hereditary cancer awareness, Alzheimer’s disease support, and assistance for individuals with physical disabilities. Additionally, NCF collaborates with the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation to empower young girls through high-performance tennis and leadership training.
Rosa’s personal experiences with cancer have deeply influenced her philanthropic endeavors, driving her commitment to education, prevention, and support for those affected by genetic cancers.
