Spartan Profiles: Joel Altman
KIDS @ HOME
The lives of hundreds of former foster care teens in South Florida is now likely to improve, thanks to the efforts of an MSU alumnus who has become a successful developer and philanthropist. Joel Altman, ’65, is the CEO of The Altman Companies, Boca Raton, FL, a residential real estate development company that has built, acquired and managed more than 14,000 multi-family units across six states.
In 2000, he founded Kids@Home (kidsathome.org), which is helping out the child welfare system in South Florida. “It’s been a very personally rewarding venture,” says Altman. “These kids are basically forced out to the streets at age 18. We partner with them and train them to become independent, self-sufficient, and fully contributing members of our society.”
Kids@Home is currently providing enhanced independent living care management to 100 young people in Palm Beach County. It was recently awarded a contract by the county’s lead child welfare agency to coordinate all the independent living services for more than 300 teens in and formerly in foster care. “You’re basically making an investment, not in a building, but in a human being,” notes Joel.
As a child growing up in Philadelphia, Joel worked for his father, who built homes. “I was a common laborer, worked my way up to superintendent, and then to sales,” recalls Joel. “By the time I was 12, I knew I wanted to be a builder.”
He chose MSU because “it had one of the two best building construction management programs in the country.” Joel calls his MSU education “valuable and enriching,” and recalls helping to found the lacrosse team.
In 2002 he established the $1.25 million Joel L. Altman Scholarship Fund at the MSU Construction Management Program in the College of Agricultural and Natural Resources. He established his first company in East Lansing, and among his first buildings were 731 Burcham and Ville Monte apartments. In the 1990s, his Altman Foundation for Children endowed a fund for the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing. “I love MSU,” says Joel. “I still have my football tickets!”
