Crain’s New York Business Names Bart M. Schwartz as Notable Leader in Philanthropy

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 9, 2025--

Guidepost Solutions, a global leader in domestic and international investigations, compliance solutions, monitoring, and security and technology consulting, is proud to announce that its Co-Founder and Chairman, Bart M. Schwartz, has been selected as one of Crain’s 2025 New York Business Notable Leaders in Philanthropy. Honorees are selected through a peer nomination and editorial review process and the annual award recognizes leaders for their professional achievements and commitment to advancing their industry and community.

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Schwartz was recognized for his pivotal role as president of the Board of Directors of the Police Athletic League of New York City (PAL). He works closely with the nonprofit’s executive director to oversee operations and enhance programs and fundraising efforts, while helping to advance PAL’s vision and mission. Schwartz has served in this role since 2023.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized by Crain’s New York Business for my contributions to the Police Athletic League, and for being included alongside other non-profit leaders advancing underserved communities,” said Bart M. Schwartz. “It is a privilege to contribute to PAL, an organization that has such a profound impact on the New York City community and its future generations.”

Since joining the PAL Board of Directors, Schwartz has been a steadfast advocate for the organization, regularly leveraging his personal and professional relationships to secure support from both individuals and institutions, including the Paul Singer Foundation. He was instrumental in spearheading the creation of its inaugural Legal Profession Luncheon in 1999, an event that celebrates legal leaders who lend themselves to the public good. Thanks to Schwartz’s leadership, the Luncheon has grown to attract support from some of New York’s most prominent law firms, raising more than $10.8 million since its inception.

In addition to his contributions to PAL, Schwartz is committed to community service. He serves on the Board of the Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association where he has been the sole sponsor of students’ college test fees for several years. As a past Chair of The All Stars Project New York Board and past member of its national Board, Schwartz championed and advocated for its award-winning Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids program. He also worked with ECPAT, a human trafficking awareness organization, and the New York City Police Department to better identify trafficking victims.

Throughout his career, Schwartz has been recognized for his professional excellence and civic leadership. His accolades include Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders GIR 2024, Crain’s New York 2023 Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders, and Compliance Week 2023 Excellence in Compliance Award. He was also named to City & State New York’s 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025 Law Power 100 list; 2025 Who’s Who in Emerging Tech list; 2025 The Responsible 100 Alumni list; 2024 Trailblazers in Law list; 2020 50 Over 50 Age Disruptors list and its 2025 50 Over 50 Alumni list. In 2022, the National Law Journal named him a Trailblazer in Crisis Communications and The American Lawyer named him a Top-Rated Lawyer.

AboutThe Police Athletic League

The Police Athletic League (PAL) is one of New York City’s largest independent youth development not-for-profits. The organization operates diverse programs such as Head Start, daycare and Universal Pre-K, elementary and middle school after-school programs, and summer day camps and playstreets. PAL’s philosophy is grounded in the belief that young people’s individual strengths and capabilities can guide them to mature, productive adulthoods with our encouragement and commitment.

AboutGuidepost Solutions LLC

Guidepost Solutions is a leader in domestic and international investigations, compliance solutions, monitoring, and security and technology consulting. We work wherever your needs take us – whether on the ground around the globe – or from one of our offices located in Bogotá, Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, New York, Palm Beach, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Singapore, Walnut Creek, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.guidepostsolutions.com.

Bart M. Schwartz, Co-Founder and Chairman, Guidepost Solutions

ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — First responders on Sunday entered a contested neighborhood in Syria’ s northern city of Aleppo after days of deadly clashes between government forces and Kurdish-led forces. Syrian state media said the military was deployed in large numbers.

The clashes broke out Tuesday in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid after the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main Kurdish-led force in the country, failed to make progress on how to merge the SDF into the national army. Security forces captured Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.

The fighting between the two sides was the most intense since the fall of then-President Bashar Assad to insurgents in December 2024. At least 23 people were killed in five days of clashes and more than 140,000 were displaced amid shelling and drone strikes.

The U.S.-backed SDF, which have played a key role in combating the Islamic State group in large swaths of eastern Syria, are the largest force yet to be absorbed into Syria's national army. Some of the factions that make up the army, however, were previously Turkish-backed insurgent groups that have a long history of clashing with Kurdish forces.

The Kurdish fighters have now evacuated from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood to northeastern Syria, which is under the control of the SDF. However, they said in a statement they will continue to fight now that the wounded and civilians have been evacuated, in what they called a “partial ceasefire.”

The neighborhood appeared calm Sunday. The United Nations said it was trying to dispatch more convoys to the neighborhoods with food, fuel, blankets and other urgent supplies.

Government security forces brought journalists to tour the devastated area, showing them the damaged Khalid al-Fajer Hospital and a military position belonging to the SDF’s security forces that government forces had targeted.

The SDF statement accused the government of targeting the hospital “dozens of times” before patients were evacuated. Damascus accused the Kurdish-led group of using the hospital and other civilian facilities as military positions.

On one street, Syrian Red Crescent first responders spoke to a resident surrounded by charred cars and badly damaged residential buildings.

Some residents told The Associated Press that SDF forces did not allow their cars through checkpoints to leave.

“We lived a night of horror. I still cannot believe that I am right here standing on my own two feet,” said Ahmad Shaikho. “So far the situation has been calm. There hasn’t been any gunfire.”

Syrian Civil Defense first responders have been disarming improvised mines that they say were left by the Kurdish forces as booby traps.

Residents who fled are not being allowed back into the neighborhood until all the mines are cleared. Some were reminded of the displacement during Syria’s long civil war.

“I want to go back to my home, I beg you,” said Hoda Alnasiri.

Associated Press journalist Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

Sandbag barriers used as fighting positions by Kurdish fighters, left inside a destroyed mosque in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Burned vehicles at one of the Kurdish fighters positions at the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

People flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian military police convoy enters the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Burned vehicles and ammunitions left at one of the Kurdish fighters positions at the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)