Sol Price

Book summary

Robert E. Price, founder of PriceSmart, Inc. and The Price Co., is an influential business figure who has led eight different companies, including Costco Wholesale Corp. Currently, he serves as the executive chairman and chief executive officer of PriceSmart, Inc., is president of Aaron Price Fellows Program, Price Philanthropies Foundation, and Price Charities, and is manager of The Price Group, LLC.

Sol Price reshaped the retail landscape with innovative strategies while profoundly impacting society through his thoughtful philanthropy. Rooted in his humble beginnings as the child of immigrants, Price’s deep empathy for the underprivileged drove his belief in the moral responsibility of the wealthy to address economic inequality through personal contributions and fair taxation. His philanthropic journey began at the Weingart Foundation, where he gained expertise in nonprofit management, leading to the creation of the Price Family Charitable Fund in 1982. Through this fund, Price and his wife, Helen, supported impactful initiatives, including pediatric endowments, brain tumor research in memory of their grandson Aaron, and the Aaron Price Fellows Program, which fostered leadership among diverse youth. Education remained central to his efforts, with grants benefiting San Diego, support for local colleges, and research challenging misconceptions about Hispanic immigration. Globally, he backed Arab-Israeli programs at Tel Aviv University despite personal reservations about Israeli policies. Following the sale of Price Club, Price expanded his charitable work, leaving a lasting mark on San Diego through projects like the Price Center at UC San Diego and the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. His life exemplified the union of ambition and compassion, using his success to uplift others and create a legacy that continues to inspire.

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