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Philly donor gives $1 million to help elect Hillary

Philadelphia real-estate investor Mel Heifetz, one of the nation's most generous givers to gay-rights causes, celebrated the end of the Democratic National Convention last week by donating $1 million to the cause of electing Hillary Clinton.

Mel Heifetz of Philadelphia celebrated the end of the Democratic National Convention last week by writing a $1 million check to the effort to elect Hillary Clinton.

Heifetz, a Center City real-estate investor and one of the most generous supporters of gay-rights causes in the nation, said he intends to send a strong message to other party donors: Get off the sidelines.

"We don't have any choice," Heifetz said in an interview. "Donald Trump being president? God forbid. A lot of people have to step up."

The gift was first reported by The Hill newspaper.

Of Trump, Heifetz said, "you can't believe a word that comes out of his mouth. He is not presidential material – no integrity."

In 2012, Heifetz donated $1 million to the effort to re-elect President Obama, through the super PAC vehicle of Priorities USA Action, creator of a series of devastating TV ads that attacked Republican Mitt Romney's career in private equity.

He had never been particularly excited by Hillary Clinton's campaign this year, but said he also has nothing against her. (Indeed, Heifetz said he had already donated about $50,000 to various committees backing the former secretary of state.)

Heifetz's real-estate empire consists of dozens of apartment and townhouse rental units across Center City, and the Alexander Inn, a boutique hotel at 12th and Spruce streets. He called himself an intense Obama loyalist, grateful for the advances in rights for LGBT people under the 44th president.

"Four years ago I really had to pay it forward," Heifetz said. "There's never been a better investment for my money than Barack Obama, for what he's done for my community."

He hopes that his $1 million for the cause of Hillary Clinton motivates other big donors, and he's already sent emails to his network.  "Every parade has to have someone go in front of it, so here I am," Heifetz said.