Kantor Family invests in Pine Crest School to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit of future student innovators

Pine Crest, Florida – For more than three decades, David and Leslie Kantor have been deeply intertwined with the life and mission of Pine Crest School. As parents, grandparents, volunteers, and community leaders, their commitment has shaped the school’s culture and inspired generations of students. Now, through a transformational philanthropic investment, the Kantors are taking that dedication a step further by establishing the Kantor Family Venture Catalyst, a program designed to advance entrepreneurship, mentorship, and real-world learning across the school.

This initiative reflects a broader vision for Pine Crest, which has for over 90 years pursued an educational philosophy rooted in forward-thinking, purposeful learning. Under the leadership of Dr. Dana Markham, the school has integrated entrepreneurship as a core pillar, encouraging collaboration, creativity, and the connection of ideas to action. With the Kantor Family Venture Catalyst, these ideals are now being amplified, creating pathways for students to explore innovation while learning essential life skills.

For the Kantors, this gift is deeply personal. David and Leslie are parents of four Pine Crest alumni—Niki Rubin, Oren Kantor, Ali Shapiro, and Gavriele Green—and grandparents to eight current students, with a ninth joining in fall 2026. Their connection to Pine Crest spans generations and experiences, fueling their desire to give back in a meaningful way.

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“We feel deeply invested in the values that our children gained from being at Pine Crest,” Leslie Kantor said.

David reflected on the transformative nature of the Upper School experience. “When we decided to send our oldest to Fort Lauderdale for Upper School from the Boca Raton campus, that is when my eyes really opened to how transformational Pine Crest could be,” he said. “K through eight was a wonderful experience, but grades nine through 12 were when our kids truly grew up.”

Through David’s service as a trustee, the Kantors gained deeper insight into the school’s strategic leadership, planning, and commitment to excellence. “I saw how intentionally the school operates,” he said. “I felt it was a meaningful investment.”

At its core, the Kantor Family Venture Catalyst reflects Pine Crest’s belief that entrepreneurship is more than a skill set—it is a way of thinking. The program emphasizes curiosity, resilience, ethical leadership, and practical problem-solving. It teaches students to embrace challenges and transform ideas into actionable outcomes.

“We’ve been a family of entrepreneurs for generations,” Leslie said. “The opportunity for more students to learn this way is so important.”

David emphasized the value of learning through failure and perseverance. “Part of life is failing,” he said. “If you can’t learn to fail, you’re never going to make it. Part of entrepreneurship is failing and learning how to grow from it.”

The Venture Catalyst is built on mentorship and real-world connection. Through the Angel Advisor model, alumni serve as mentors, guiding students in venture development, refining pitches, and providing insights drawn from their own experiences of success and failure. These relationships also create professional pathways, from internships to immersive learning experiences.

“These connections are incredibly powerful,” Leslie said. “It’s about giving back.”

David reinforced this sense of responsibility. “No one succeeds on their own,” he said. “Now it’s your turn, as Pine Crest alumni, to lift up the next generation.”

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The Catalyst also includes new curriculum enhancements, including an Honors Entrepreneurship course, additional faculty support, and coaching through the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. Students gain access to a Student Venture Fund and professional-grade tools, enabling them to prototype and develop ideas in a safe-to-fail environment.

“We wanted this gift to create opportunity,” Leslie said. “To help students take their ideas seriously and explore them fully.”

By investing in both programs and people, the Kantors have created a flexible, future-ready model of learning that adapts to student interests and emerging industry trends. Students can engage directly with innovation while learning how to navigate challenges, collaborate with peers, and develop leadership skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.

For the Kantors, the true measure of success will be the lasting impact on students’ lives. “Twenty years from now, we hope someone returns and says, ‘I developed my entrepreneurial mindset here,’” David said. “And now I want to give back.”

As Pine Crest continues to expand its focus on applied, real-world learning, the Kantor Family Venture Catalyst exemplifies how thoughtful philanthropy can fuel innovation, mentorship, and a culture of purpose. By bridging generations, knowledge, and opportunity, the Kantors’ investment strengthens Pine Crest’s vision and ensures that future students are empowered to turn their ideas into meaningful action.

In every classroom, mentorship session, and venture prototype, the influence of David and Leslie Kantor is visible—shaping not just the educational experience but also the values and aspirations of students who will go on to lead with creativity, confidence, and impact. Through this visionary gift, Pine Crest and the Kantor family together are setting the stage for generations of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders to come.

The Kantor Family Venture Catalyst is more than a program—it is a testament to the power of generosity, foresight, and commitment to nurturing human potential. It reminds students that ideas have value, that failure is part of growth, and that with mentorship, resources, and opportunity, the next generation can achieve extraordinary things.