L-R Judy Steinhardt, with event honoree, Michael Steinhardt, and daughter, Sara Berman.
American Friends of Tel Aviv University celebrated the opening of the new Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University, the first and only center for natural history research and outreach in the Middle East, at its 2016 Annual Gala at 4 World Trade Center in New York City.
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The dinner gala honored Michael Steinhardt, philanthropist, financier, investor and one of the founding patrons behind Birthright Israel.
L-R American Friends of Tel Aviv University CEO, Gail Reiss with Gala Co-Chair, Lynn Schusterman
Charles Bronfman and Lynn Schusterman, who joined Mr. Steinhardt in providing founding gifts to Birthright Israel, served as the event co-chairs. Mr. Bronfman is chairman of Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc. and founder of the Charles Bronfman Prize, which honors individuals for their exceptional humanitarian contributions.
Mrs. Schusterman is the founder of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to the Jewish community.
Gala Co-Chair and philanthropist, Charles R. Bronfman
Joseph Klafter, President of Tel Aviv University said “The Steinhardt Museum will transform Israel into an academic global hub for natural history research – attracting hundreds of visiting scientists. We have many people to thank for this project, but the earliest advocate, the lead supporter, and the long-time champion is our honoree tonight, Michael Steinhardt.”
“I believe that the five million plus specimens that will be in the museum on opening day are already a dynamic record of Israel’s biodiversity and the history and evolution of humankind in the Middle East, ” said Michael Steinhardt, who celebrated his 76th birthday the night of the gala. “I couldn’t imagine a better way to celebrate my birthday than recognizing an institution that will grow to be an incubator for young Jewish scientists.”
L-R Jacob Frenkel, chairman of JPMorgan Chase International and chairman of Tel Aviv University’s board of governors, with Tel Aviv University president Joseph Klafter.
The Steinhardt Museum, set to open in the summer of 2017, is “uniquely positioned to make fundamental contributions to the biological and human processes that linked Africa with the rest of the world, ” according to Stanford University Prof. Dr. Marcus Feldman, a member of the Steinhardt Museum International Scientific Advisory Board.
“The Steinhardt Museum is now a magnificent reality because of the intellectual curiosity and generosity of Michael Steinhardt, ” said Gail Reiss, President & CEO of American Friends of Tel Aviv University. “We hope and believe that, in addition to being a great research institution, the museum will become a tourist destination on par with Tel Aviv itself. Its exotic ark design and neighborhood – part of the TAU Nature Campus, which includes the Botanical Gardens and the I. Meier Segals Garden for Zoological Research – will make TAU a wonderful day trip for children and adults alike.”
Dr. Garry Rayant, board member of American Friends of Tel Aviv University and Dear Doctor Magazine, Inc. partnerdirector, with Dr. Kathy Fields, co-founder of Proactiv Solutions.
L-R Harold Kaplan, The Hon. Ramy Djerassi, Richard Sincere, Gail Reiss, Tim Schlindwein, and James Dubin
L-R Maria Vlessenko, AFTAU Board Member Yossi Benlevi, AFTAU Alumni Affairs Director Shiri Stern, and AFTAU Board Member Gil Arie
