BGU to receive $13 million gift from Mandel Foundation

$10 million of gift from Ohio fund will go towards construction of a new building, an 'Institute for Social Leadership.'

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
Ben-Gurion University campus in Beersheba 370 (photo credit: BGU)
Ben-Gurion University campus in Beersheba 370
(photo credit: BGU)
Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) announced on Tuesday it had received a gift of $13 million from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.
The generous donation to the university is comprised of a capital grant of $10 million towards the construction of a new building - the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Institute for Social Leadership.  The additional $3 million will establish an honors program in social leadership, which will incorporate the current academic MBA program in social leadership, the Israel Center for Third-Sector Research, and the addition of new executive programs.
“As part of our long-term relationship with Ben-Gurion University, the Mandel Foundation welcomes the opportunity to assist the University in further developing the area of social leadership. This gift represents our desire to support Ben-Gurion University, the city of Beer-Sheba, and the advancement of social leadership in Israel,” said Morton Mandel, Foundation Chairman and CEO.
The 40,000 square foot building, designed by Plesner Architects of Tel Aviv, will be located on BGU's campus in Beer-Sheba and will house classrooms, studios, offices, auditoriums and research facilities.  The program in Social Leadership aims to train and develop top leaders for the nonprofit and public sectors in Israel through the integration of advanced management knowledge, leadership skills and a deep commitment to social improvement.