A Railroad Heir Leaves $43-Millionto Social-Service Charity and Arts Groups

How much: $43-million bequest

Who gave it: Richard Herman, whose father, Bernard, was chief engineer at the Southern Railway during a time of great expansion. Mr. Herman, who inherited and invested his father’s wealth, died in November at the age of 100.

Who got the biggest share: $28-million went to Family Matters of Greater Washington, a social-services group with an annual budget that is less than half the size of the bequest. Mr. Herman made his first gift, $25, to the group in 1967 and donated a total of $500,000 in his lifetime. A few years before his death, the group learned from one of his advisers that Mr. Herman had named the organization in his will.

Other beneficiaries: $15-million went to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and an undisclosed amount to the Corcoran Gallery of Art. A lifelong art enthusiast, Mr. Herman often attended performances at the Kennedy Center, which is a block from his apartment.

Where the money will go: Family Matters will establish a charitable trust named after Mr. Herman to serve more clients and to start a series of arts programs for young people and older adults. The Kennedy Center’s gift will be evenly divided to endow the Washington National Opera and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Why the donor gave: Betsy Paull, Mr. Herman’s cousin, says she believes his devotion to his parents played a role in his giving. “He would be happy to think the wealth that his father started, that he maintained and grew, would be beneficial in Washington, D.C., where the family is so rooted,” she says.