The Shenson Foundation was established in 1995 by brothers Ben and A. Jess Shenson, Stanford University-trained doctors who lived and practiced internal medicine in San Francisco for over 50 years. Serious music lovers from an early age, Ben and Jess pursued their arts education as ushers at the War Memorial Opera House throughout their high school years.  During their respective lifetimes, the Shenson brothers devoted their boundless energies to supporting arts organizations and Jewish philanthropic causes in ways ranging from service as board trustees to frequent and generous financial support. Founded shortly before Ben’s death in 1995, Jess steered the Shenson Foundation into expanded annual support benefitting more than thirty-five organizations that included the city’s most influential performing arts organizations such as The San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera and its Merola Opera Program, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco Performances, The Community Music Center, and Cal Performances among numerous others.  Following the passing of Jess Shenson in 2002, the spirit and mission of the Shenson Foundation continued under the vision and direction of fourth-generation family members Fred M. Levin and Nancy Livingston Levin both long respected arts community leaders in their own right, who significantly increased the Foundation's grant awards to more than 75 organizations in the performing arts, visual arts, Jewish social services, and education.