Fred, the jet-piloting, law-litigating, vine-growing vintner, commits time and heart to the Furth Family Foundation. "I created this Foundation with my mother in mind," says Fred. In honor of his mother, for the last thirty years Fred's foundation has supported the Mary Agatha Furth program at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco by funding a grant providing housing and hope to children. Fred has also provided major funding for the Megan Furth Academy. He made a long-term financial commitment to the school in memory of his daughter Megan Furth, for whom the school has been dedicated. Fred's Foundation founded and sponsors the International Judicial Conference, an annual event that brings together high court judges from around the world to discuss issues related to justice and the rule of law (www.internationaljudicialconference.org), and an international competition to devise the most innovative, practical solution to achieving Russian ruble convertibility, the Furth Ruble Prize.
Using a musical analogy, Fred likens his role of Chairman of the Chalk Hill Estate to that of a symphony orchestra conductor. "You have to have an ear for harmony and discord." It is very gratifying to him that many employees have been with Chalk Hill for 20 years. He points out that the children of the owners of the great French chateaux work as interns at Chalk Hill each harvest. "I am very complimented by that," says Fred. He adds, "I believe there is the greatest value and satisfaction in sharing with others what you cherish the most."
