Felix Warburg Gets One of Three 1930 Medals for High Social Service to N. Y. C.

Felix M. Warburg, distinguished Jewish philanthropist and communal leader, was yesterday awarded one of the three 1930 medals for “distinguished social service to the City of New York,” given by “Better Times.” The citation which accompanied the award follows:

“Felix M. Warburg, financier, philanthropist, patron of the arts, a citizen whose humanitarianism is without frontiers. Mr. Warburg brought to America a deep cultural tradition, a broad social philosophy, and the inestimable gift of youth. He accepted the responsibility of citizenship in its fullest meaning and for thirty years has discharged that obligation in ways that have enriched the life of his country. To art, to music, to education and to philanthropy he has brought his genius for organization, his inspired and practical imagination, his lucid quality of thought and his keen decisiveness of mind. In the field of social welfare he has erected new guide-posts of usefulness for men of wealth and intelligence. He advocated and influenced, while a member of the Board of Education, the development of the system of ungraded classes now a component part of the school system in this and many other cities.

“By his powers of organization and through the confidence imposed in him by the Jewish community, he brought order and efficiency to the great body of Jewish charities in the city. He was the first president of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies in New York and remains an active and devoted member of its directorate. He was one of the little group of far-sighted men who brought about the formation of the Welfare Council of New York City, and who are steadfastly supporting its program for more effective coordination of social resources. His generous and sympathetic participation in the work of the Nursing Service of Henry Street Settlement, has been a powerful factor in the extension of that service to the sick and suffering of the city.

“Mr. Warburg’s deep sense of human and racial obligation led him into international philanthropy. As chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee he surmounted the difficulties incident to the administration of the vast funds collected in this country for the relief of the Jews in Europe suffering from the war. Out of that experience grew further absorption in the problems of the Jews of Eastern Europe, and the development of purposeful, practical activities for dealing with them. His personal loyalty and whole-hearted devotion to a cause is now finding vigorous expression in projects for the reconstruction of the economic, social and spiritual life of the Jews of Eastern Europe, and for the upbuilding of Jewish life in Palestine.”