Occupation: Mickey Ross (1918-2009) was a television producer, director and writer for such classic comedies as All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Three's Company.

Foundation legacy: The Michael and Irene Ross Endowment Fund

Inspiration: While a successful television producer, Mickey never forgot growing up with immigrant Jewish parents during the Depression. Although not a religious man, Ross had a deep affinity for Yiddishkeit-the Jewish way of life. His parents spoke Yiddish, and Ross passionately spoke it with friends. He had generously donated to Yiddish causes.

Foundation involvement: His attorney and business manager suggested Mickey come to The Foundation and begin using the services of its Center for Designed Philanthropy to help shape his current giving. After getting to know The Foundation better, Mickey bequethed 50 percent of his residuary estate-more than $10 million-to The Foundation and trusted its Board to continue his philanthropy for generations.

Philanthropic approach: Mickey's attorney, Alan Watenmaker, notes that The Foundation's resources and the opportunity to preserve Mickey's own charitable interests were so significant that "he was ultimately convinced that creating an endowment was the best way to go." The Ross fund will provide for the crucial needs of Southern California's most vulnerable, through programs that provide food, shelter, medical care, and education to the needy, regardless of religion.

Reflections: "Mickey was a very modest and humble man and could never really reconcile to himself that he had the wealth to make contributions in such significant amounts," says his business manager Mads Bjerre.

But, sums up colleague Paul Wayne, "It wasn't only the money he gave back-which was an enormous amount. It was … what he did in his writing-what he did in everything. He was a very, highly principled man. Mickey wasn't the type of person who said, 'I'm going to help the underdog, I'm going the help the downtrodden.' But he did-he was a man of action." I think if Mickey knew his donations were helping for generations to come, he would be terribly, terribly pleased."