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The Stiles-Nicholson Foundation
Educating Palm Beach County’s Students in Finance, Science and Business
David J.S. Nicholson wants to inspire more Palm Beach County businesses, individuals and foundations to invest in K-12 education.
© Robert Sadler Clark
“Children are only 25 percent of our population but represent 100 percent of our future,” said Nicholson, chairman and founder of The StilesNicholson Foundation in Jupiter. “We need meaningful support for education from our local community leaders, foundations and businesses. After all, businesses are the biggest beneficiaries of workforce-ready local K-12 graduates. To me, this is the No. 1 priority item for Palm Beach County.”
For the past 28 years, Nicholson has been a driving force in advancing financial literacy, business skills and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs. His degrees and credentials—BSc, CFA, P.Eng, and an LLD honorary doctorate from Northwood University-Florida—reflect Nicholson’s distinguished professional career in engineering, computer science and financial services.
A former hedge fund pioneer with a passion for entrepreneurship and small business, Nicholson is dedicated to preparing students from all backgrounds for success in the real world. “The foundation evolved from my personal story, and with the help of many partners, has had a significant impact on Palm Beach County over the past 28 years,” he said.
The region’s educational leaders agree. “Public education, STEM education and financial literacy have no greater advocate in Palm Beach County than David Nicholson,” said James Gavrilos, president and CEO of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. “He has a brilliant analytical mind combined with a deep sense of compassion for those who are struggling and need extra support to succeed.”
Awards and Recognition
• National Gold Leadership Award – Junior Achievement, USA
• National Silver Leadership Award – Junior Achievement, USA
• National Bronze Leadership Award – Junior Achievement, USA
• Philanthropic Partner of the Year 2019 – Junior Achievement
• STEM Innovation Lifetime Achievement Award – South Florida Science Center
• Honorary Doctor of Laws LLD – Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise Education – Northwood University – Florida
Honoring Two Fathers
Nicholson was born in England in 1940, during one of the darkest hours of World War II. His father, Sgt. Will Stiles of the Royal Air Force, was killed in action in 1943 on a bombing raid to disrupt Germany’s Vrocket program. His widowed mother Elizabeth Stiles remarried Flt. Lt. William Nicholson of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who was shot down in 1944 and held as a German prisoner of war for 15 months.
After war’s end, Nicholson and his mother rejoined his stepfather in Ontario, Canada, where he grew up enjoying hockey and golf. After graduating in 1962 with a degree in electrical engineering, he joined IBM as a systems engineer developing computer applications to optimize production for Canadian manufacturers.
“Even though I was well educated, I did not really understand the proper functions of government or taxes or free enterprise,” Nicholson recalled. “I was interested in those financial facts of life, but had to learn from experience and random tidbits from my parents. I knew early on that we should do better in our schools in basic financial literacy and explaining how the most successful economic model in the history of mankind really works. That model is democratic free enterprise and entrepreneurship.”
During the 1960s, Nicholson was a leader in operations research for IBM, heading an international team that automated the world’s largest cement plant. He then joined Weyerhaeuser, developing models to optimize corrugated box manufacturing. “Every inch of waste that could be saved was worth $1 million to the company,” he recalled. Next, Nicholson moved to New Jersey, helping to bring institutional investment advisor MacKay Shields Financial Company into the computer age.
“Over the years, I developed portfolio models to optimize results, manage risk and select undervalued securities,” he said. “Harvard University agreed with my approach, and selected me as an investment advisor and portfolio manager for part of their endowment.” In 1978, Nicholson branched out on his own and launched York Management & Research as an independent investment advisor. He formed three hedge funds in the 1980s, and ran them successfully for 20 years, before creating a family office and focusing on philanthropy.
Nicholson relocated his firm and hedge funds from New York City to Jupiter in 1990 to enjoy the low-tax climate and relaxed quality of life. He formed the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation in 1992 in honor of his father and stepfather. Today, Nicholson’s wife Lynn and daughter LeeAnne LaBanz are also trustees of the foundation. David and Lynn have five daughters and 11 grandchildren in Canada and the U.S.
William Nicholson shot down over Germany in 1944; POW for 15 months until end of war.
Father Sgt. Will Stiles killed in action on R.A.F . Peenemunde Raid 8/17/1943.
Making an Impact
Through the foundation, Nicholson has helped hundreds of thousands of children discover their personal passions in the fields of science, technology, finance and business. “As an engineer and computer scientist, I have long recognized the importance of STEM as the key driver of advances in our quality of life ever since the Stone Age. Sadly, the U.S. is currently ranked No. 28 in the world in math and science. We can do better,” he said.
Nicholson is one of the two primary funders of “Journey Through the Human Brain,” an interactive exhibit at the South Florida Science Center. That has helped boost attendance, and interest young minds in the field of neuroscience.
“Under Lew Crampton and Kate Arrizza, the center has become an exciting innovative STEM education hub for the whole county,” Nicholson said.
Through the foundation, Nicholson originated the M.A.D. Scientist Awards (Making A Difference), recognizing and rewarding more than 400 young scientists and their projects at the South Florida Regional Science Fair.
In collaboration with the Brain Institute on the Jupiter campus of Florida Atlantic University, Nicholson sponsored the ASCEND Program (Advancing STEM Community Engagement Through Neuroscience Discovery). “This inspires middle schoolers, parents and community members to learn more about how the brain works through podcasts, online lessons, seminars and classes,” he said.
As the largest private funder of Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches over the past 26 years, Nicholson has touched the lives of 500,000 students, who have benefited from K-12 financial literacy classes and BizTown hands-on experience to run a town for a day. “Teaching is all about creating learning moments, and I’ve seen that happen many times in the BizTown interactions. They are learning that fourth R, Reality,” he said.
Nicholson has also collaborated with the Pew Public Education Trust to sponsor a financial literacy program through the School District of Palm Beach County.
In the four years since its creation, more than 53,000 students have been schooled in financial literacy, better preparing them to survive in the real world.
Last year, Nicholson was instrumental in launching an exciting 3DE Schools pilot program for ninth graders at Lake Worth High School. “It’s a school within a school that includes case studies from local businesses facing real-life challenges,” Nicholson said. “Students who take part in this national program are enthusiastically engaged, have increased attendance and graduation rates, as well as increased proficiency in reading and math.”
Building Relationships
Nicholson has built strong relationships with thought leaders throughout his professional and philanthropic careers. For instance, he is collaborating with former Gov. Jeb Bush at Florida’s Excellence in Education Foundation to increase school district flexibility for the advancement of personalized learning.
On the national level, Nicholson is working with Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, to advance the vision of free online education for all. “He has 100 million monthly users, and is crafting new tools and aids to help teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” Nicholson said. “Distance learning is here to stay, and will be blended with classroom learning to produce better education outcomes.”
In Palm Beach County, Superintendent Donald Fennoy II and his predecessor, Robert Avossa, have welcomed new ideas to improve student outcomes, said Nicholson, who also commended FAU President John Kelly and Randy Blakely, head of FAU’s Brain Institute, for integrating K-12 with higher education. “We have many hardworking educational leaders here who are making a difference in our community.”
Looking Ahead
Nicholson hopes to double or triple the school district’s financial literacy program, as well as its STEM and business learning initiatives. He is also actively engaged with the Tax Foundation in developing a new “Tax Basics 101” program to highlight good tax policy on a national level.
“COVID has accelerated permanent changes in education and has created a golden opportunity for improving those K-12 education outcomes. Every student and teacher will need a computer and tech skills as they embrace new exciting learning tools and methods. I encourage everyone in our business community to help engage, guide and support local K-12 education,” Nicholson said. “That’s vital for building the best workforce to grow Palm Beach County.”
To learn more about the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation, visit stiles-nicholson.org, or email djsn@stiles-nicholson.org
