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Reporter's Notebook New York State Health

Health Execs’ Charity Gave Away Millions. Don’t Ask Where it Went.

The Modim Foundation is tied to a health insurer that will begin providing coverage to thousands of New York’s home health aides in May. It refuses to disclose where its gifts go, in a violation of tax law.

Sam Mellins   ·   May 1, 2025
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The Reporters’ Notebook features bite-sized stories and updates from New York Focus reporters on the topics they cover.

In recent weeks, we’ve been reporting on a shady health insurance company, Leading Edge Administrators, and its founders, Barbara and Jerry Weissman. The company has faced lawsuits after failing to pay for health care and used a creative scheme to help employers keep money meant for low-wage health care workers.

We’re looking into the company because starting May 1, they’ll be providing bare-bones health insurance to thousands of New York’s home health aides — people who care for elderly and disabled New Yorkers through a state-funded home care program known as CDPAP. Our stories highlighted that Leading Edge’s insurance won’t cover many basic medical needs and could leave home care workers in deep medical debt.

Governor Kathy Hochul and her health department commissioner James McDonald at a desk

But something else also caught our attention. Barbara and Jerry Weissman control a nonprofit that since 2022 has given away $4.3 million — and hasn’t disclosed who received any of it. This defies laws that require nonprofits to report their donations, and it raises concerns about whether the foundation is truly using its funds for charitable purposes.

“If you are actually promoting charitable work, there is no reason to hide the recipients of your charitable grants,” said Tania Ibanez, a lawyer who served as the chief charity regulator for California’s Attorney General until 2023.

The Modim Foundation, as the nonprofit is called, was founded in 2022 and registered to the Weissmans’ home address in Boynton Beach, Florida. Barbara Weissman is the organization’s president, and in 2024, Jerry was listed as the person who reviews grant applications.

The nonprofit’s funds come from three donations — one from Barbara personally, and the other two from health care companies that she and Jerry control.

An insurance claim has first been stamped "approved," but then stamped "denied."

Instead of following the laws requiring nonprofits to disclose who they’re sending money to, each of the organization’s three tax returns simply says that “Details of the contributions are available for inspection upon request,” and lists the Weissmans’ home address as a point of contact.

So, New York Focus sent a certified mail request for that information to the address, emailed Jerry Weissman, and called his office.

We received no response.

In a brief phone conversation, David Stern, the CFO of Leading Edge who also serves as the Modim Foundation’s treasurer, declined to provide any information. Asked about the foundation’s history and mission, Stern said, “that’s not something I can tell you.”

He said he would pass New York Focus’ questions to Jerry Weissman, but did not follow up.

Do you know anything about The Modim Foundation, Leading Edge Administrators, or the Weissmans? We want to hear from you. Reach out to sam@nysfocus.com. You can remain anonymous.

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Sam Mellins is senior reporter at New York Focus, which he has been a part of since launch day. His reporting has also appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Intercept, THE CITY, and The Nation. Reach him on Signal: mellins.613
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