Alta Moore Kadoorie In her Own Words
In a recent telephone conversation with Mary Alice Carr, a Director of the Moore Family Trust Foundation, Alta Moore Kadoorie reflected upon her evolving relationship with the Foundation, her mother’s enduring influence, and what she believes a philanthropic foundation is ultimately meant to accomplish.
“My mother loved the museums of Paris. The Musée d’Orsay was her peaceful place. The Paris Opera I have always thought of as an escape—in the very best sense of the word. These were places that brought her enormous joy.”
Today, the Foundation honors her mother’s life and memory through endowments supporting the arts, as well as the American Hospital of Paris—commitments that Alta regards not simply as memorials, but as living extensions of the values her mother held dear.
“When I am in Paris, I still use Mother’s apartment,” Alta continued. “Her spirit is indeed still reigning there.”
Paris
For Alta, however, the meaning of legacy has broadened through another important chapter of her life. Three years ago, upon marrying her husband, Alex, she converted to Judaism—an experience she says has deepened her understanding of faith, family, tradition, and the ways generations remain connected.
“Since that time, I have come to a better understanding of our combined beliefs and of the history of family. I tend to call it legacy, whereas Alex speaks of history. They are the same, yet somehow different.”
It is a distinction she returns to thoughtfully.
“For me, legacy is part of my being. It is not something packed away in a shoebox. Whether I am here in Australia, in Hong Kong where Alex and I also have a home, or in Paris, the belief in what we love and what we hold dear travels with us.”
Paris
When I expressed my delight at seeing Alta become more visibly involved with the Foundation in recent years, she gently corrected the premise.
“I have always kept one hand in the mix,” she replied. “It is part of my life, so I never completely stepped away. I have pursued other endeavors, certainly, but I have never left.”
Paris
That continuity appears central to Alta’s understanding of stewardship. Tradition, to her, is neither ceremonial nor static; it carries an obligation to preserve what deserves preservation while ensuring that inherited resources continue to serve a meaningful purpose.
“Traditional aspects of life are very important to me. I have no children, so in many ways the past—and what we represent today—occupies that deeply personal place in my life. There is a responsibility to care for it and to see that it continues.”
That responsibility extends directly to philanthropy.
Paris
Giving is deeply personal, but it must also be measured. The use of capital in the correct manner matters greatly. It is not enough simply to give. One must understand why one is giving, what the capital is intended to accomplish, and whether it is being used wisely.”
It is perhaps the clearest expression of Alta’s vision for the Foundation: philanthropy as both sentiment and stewardship—heart accompanied by discipline.
When our conversation turned to married life, I could almost hear her smile through the telephone.
“Marriage is the joining of two individuals. My union is perfect in every way. Alex allows me to remain independent, although I see my role as his wife as a guiding force in my life. We have brought together two histories, two traditions, and two ways of seeing the world, without asking either to surrender what came before.”
And ultimately, Alta returns to gratitude—the obligation she believes accompanies a life of extraordinary privilege.
“I adored my Mother, she was everything in my world.”
“I shall always give back much more than I take. I have had an enormously privileged life. Wealth can either destroy a person or make one stronger. For me, it has been the latter.”
Perhaps therein lies the thread connecting Paris, Sydney and Hong Kong; a mother’s memory and a marriage; inherited tradition and present responsibility; private wealth and public purpose.
For Alta Moore Kadoorie, legacy is not an artifact of the past. It is something entrusted to the present.
It must be remembered, certainly—but more importantly, it must be lived, stewarded, and ultimately passed forward with purpose.
— Mary Alice Carr
Director, Moore Family Trust Foundation