Ben Gurion University receives $400m donation

Rivka Carmi Photo: Tamar Matsafi
Rivka Carmi Photo: Tamar Matsafi

The late Dr. Howard and Lottie Marcus of San Diego, California have made the largest ever gift to an Israeli university.

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) have announced a gift of $400 million from the estate of Dr. Howard and Lottie Marcus of San Diego, California. Lottie Marcus died this past December at age 99, while Howard died in 2014 at age 104.

The legacy gift is believed to be the largest bequest on behalf of an Israeli university and may be the largest donation ever made to benefit any institution in the State of Israel. The funds will be used to establish a permanent endowment in support of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, which will yield endowment assets that more than double the size of the current University endowment.

The Marcuses first encountered BGU in 1997, and were captivated by its research primarily in the fields of water, desalination and desert studies. They supported research in those fields, including a laboratory and student scholarships. They believed that water solutions are the key to achieving peace in the Middle East. Shortly thereafter, they made the decision to leave the majority of their fortune to the University.

Lottie and Howard Marcus fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s and lost most of their family members in the Holocaust. They immigrated to the United States and began to build a new life, Howard as a dentist, and Lottie as a secretary at a Wall Street firm. They subsequently met, fell in love, and married in New York.

In 2004, Lottie and Howard were awarded honorary doctoral degrees by BGU in recognition of their pioneering spirit, exceptional philanthropy and unstinting dedication to Israel and to Ben-Gurion University. The Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva, named for them in 2005, reflects their magnanimous commitment to the University and to the fulfillment of David Ben-Gurion's vision to build a world-class institution of education and research in the Negev desert.

BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi: "Howard and Lottie Marcus were rare and special people. Holocaust survivors who lived a simple and humble life and joined their fate and their legacy to that of the State of Israel. Just as they viewed their fortune as merely a way to fulfill a greater mission - so too were they themselves - larger than life. "Lottie and Howard are deeply missed, but their legacy will be felt in every BGU hallway and courtyard; in each classroom and laboratory; and by the faculty, students and staff who will be touched by their noble-spirited generosity for generations to come." She concluded, "Lottie and Howard believed in the transformative power of the University to change the face of the Negev and to raise the next generation of researchers and leaders. This is an historic day, and not just for the University - their generosity makes a statement to Israel and the entire world."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 24, 2016

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2016

Rivka Carmi Photo: Tamar Matsafi
Rivka Carmi Photo: Tamar Matsafi
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