Bernie Marcus

Biographical Information
"Bernie Marcus is co-founder of The Home Depot, Inc., the world's largest home improvement retailer. He served as chairman of the board until his retirement in 2002. He remains director emeritus. Marcus serves as chairman of the board of The Marcus Foundation, which he founded in 1988. Its areas of focus include Jewish causes, children, medical research, free enterprise, and the community.

"In 1991, he and his wife, Billi, established The Marcus Institute, which provides programs for children and adolescents with disorders of the brain, and especially autism, and their families. In 1998, the Marcus Institute joined forces with the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. Marcus donated $25 million to Autism Speaks to spearhead its efforts to raise money for research on the causes and cure for autism. "

Winner of the 2012 William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. The 2011 winner was Charles G. Koch.