San Diego, CA – A US couple of Holocaust survivors gifted $400 million to the Ben Gurion University of the Negev.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The American Associates of the university announced the gift by the estate of Dr. Howard and Lottie Marcus of San Diego, California on Friday. Lottie Marcus died this past December at age 99, just two months short of her 100th birthday, while Howard died in 2014 at age 104.
The legacy gift is believed to the largest donation to an Israeli institution in the history of the state, the university said.
The funds will be used to establish a permanent endowment in support of BGU, which will yield endowment assets that more than double the size of the current University endowment.
The Marcuses first began their relationship with BGU in 1997 and were primarily captivated by its research in the fields of water, desalination and desert studies.
“Dear Lottie and Howard believed in us. Out of all the places in the world and all the philanthropic opportunities – they chose Ben-Gurion University. Now it is our responsibility to fulfill their vision and continue to prosper and flourish,” said BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi.
“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 said.
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.
After moving the New York, the family invested most of their nest egg with Warren Buffett and subsequently made their fortune.
“I met Howard and Lottie more than 50 years ago — through a mutual friend, my lifetime hero Ben Graham. We hit it off and they joined my investment partnership. Knowing them, it comes as no surprise that they elected to use their financial success to enhance the lives of thousands of Israeli young people,” Warren Buffett said of the couple.
A dentist and a secretary were able to turn their earnings into 400 million, and Obama says we’re doing better than ever. When will he stop trying to sell his lies.
Oyi veh! How many beni torah couldve sustained themselves with this kind of money
On the other hand at least it went to an institution that works on making life in our holy land more livable
Wow. What a shame. leaving so much money to a college
I await the usual you call that tsedakeh comments I have so from to love
They made their money honestly and H”KBH decided to give them success. They are sharing their success with a very worthy institute of learning to embetter the lives of many many people. We should be proud of them. They made their money in America where an immigrant can come with no money or family and still make it. That is the American dream, and in this case it’s also the Jewish dream. Kol Hakavod.
Bgu is pro bds
Thanks for the good laugh numbers 2 and 3.
That’s more than billionaire Trump has given to charity in his entire life. That’s why he won’t release the tax returns.