Michael Kalb on philanthropy
From 2024 Philanthropy Awards - Michael Kalb · · Our Fund Foundation
“I really appreciate this recognition from our fund — it means a lot to me, but that's not why we did this. We did this for love, and I'm turning this recognition around and giving it back to the community because the community came together to make this happen.”
On , Michael Kalb, Executive Vice President, Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer at CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS INC, spoke about philanthropy during 2024 Philanthropy Awards - Michael Kalb on Our Fund Foundation.
About Michael Kalb
Michael Kalb, Executive Vice President, Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer at Enanta, was named Philanthropist of the Year at a 2024 philanthropy awards ceremony. In his remarks, Kalb described a ten-year personal journey that began when he embraced his sexuality. He stated that his involvement with the LGBTQ community is about supporting good causes and political activism rather than social activities. Kalb said his work on a shelter for unhoused LGBTQ youth, Sunshine Pride House, helped him learn to love himself as a proud gay man. He attributed the project's success to the community's collective effort and said he was giving the recognition back to the community. In a 2023 collector conversation, Kalb discussed his watch collection, describing his preferences for contemporary timepieces he will wear. He spoke about specific watches including a Patek Philippe 5960/1A, an H. Moser & Cie. perpetual calendar, and a De Bethune, and commented on the engineering of an A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk. Kalb also noted that he looks for innovation and differentiation in watch brands and stated that the watch industry has moved on from the "Holy Trinity" of traditional manufacturers. Separately, in a 2020 musical performance, Kalb sang covers of songs including "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and "The Needle and the Damage Done."