Leonard Wilf joins cousins Zygi and Mark Wilf with the Vikings ownership group as Vice Chairman of the team for the 17th season in 2021. Away from the Vikings, Wilf also serves as President of family-owned Garden Homes Development, a nationwide leader in retail, commercial and private residential development based in New Jersey and New York. Garden Homes celebrated their 60th year of business in 2014.
Wilf earned his bachelor's degree, Cum Laude, from Boston University. Following his undergraduate work, Wilf graduated with a law degree from Georgetown University.
During his tenure at Georgetown, Wilf was editor of the Georgetown Law Review. Wilf went on to receive a Master of Law in Taxation from New York University.
In 2012, Wilf was recognized for his progressive work with charities and named to the board of the NFL Foundation and also serves on the NFL Legislative Committee. Active with several professional and civic groups, Wilf is Vice Chairman on the Board of Trustees of NYU and the NYU Law School. Wilf is former Chairman of the American Society of Yad Vashem and a Board Member of New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is an involved member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, New York Athletic Club and Wilf was appointed a national trustee of The First Tee Program. Wilf is also active in veterans causes, having The Lincoln Awards, a concert and show which aired on the Public Broadcasting System to honor vets.
An avid sportsman, Wilf enjoys snowshoeing, golf, and deep sea fishing. His interest in NFL football was developed with his cousins from his youth.
Philanthropy has long been a key point of emphasis for the Wilfs and has been evident through-out the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the Wilf Family Foundations and the Vikings gave over $5 million in donations and commitments to support health care workers, the elderly, food banks social service organizations and Jewish causes in Minnesota, New York, New Jersey and Israel. The Wilfs have been actively engaged with the team's player-led Social Justice Committee. In June 2020, the Wilf Family and the Vikings announced a $5 million donation to social justice causes throughout the United States, building on their previous donations of $250,000 in 2018 and 2019. The contributions from the fund will be determined in part through collaboration with the players and directed towards organizations fighting hate, racism, and inequality.
In spring 2019 the Wilf Family Foundation made a $1 million donation to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to help the development of a Founders Exhibit to shine a light on the many contributions of founders and owners of NFL franchises. The display will cover the entire history of the NFL with a special emphasis on "Women of the NFL" and opened in 2020 in conjunction with the NFL's Centennial Celebration.
Wilf and his wife, Beth, have four children and are active members of the community through the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park Conservancy. Wilf was appointed by President Clinton to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council in January 1997 and spearheaded the construction of the Metrowest Campus of UJA-Federation in East Hanover, NJ. He and his family reside in Florida.
