Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) announces the gift of $ 13,106,700 from
the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. The gift is
comprised of a capital grant of $10 million to construct a new building - the
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Institute for Social Leadership. An additional
$3,106,700 will establish the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors Program in
Social Leadership, which will be housed in the new building.
The Jack,
Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors Program in Social Leadership will incorporate
the current academic MBA program in social leadership, the Israel Center for
Third-Sector Research and the eventual executive programs that will all be under
the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Institute for Social Leadership.
Morton L. Mandel, Foundation Chairman and CEO, remarks, “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-Sheva, and the advancement of social leadership in
Israel.”
This new building will be located on BGU’s Marcus Family Campus
in Beer Sheva, Israel, adjacent to the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and
Management. The 40,000 square foot building, designed by Plesner Architects of
Tel Aviv, will house classrooms, studios, offices, auditoriums and research
facilities, addressing BGU’s academic needs to further develop the area of
social leadership.
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors Program in
Social Leadership will incorporate both the current academic MBA program in
social leadership and the Israel Center for Third-Sector Research. The
additional funds will allow for expansion of the program. The purpose of the
Mandel Honors Program in Social Leadership is to teach students within the
Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management, including students enrolled
in other business programs, relevant business administration, social
responsibility and social leadership skills.
"This magnanimous gift
incorporates the founding vision of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev to be
involved with and make a difference in the community,” says University President
Prof. Rivka Carmi. “We are inspired by Mort Mandel's vision and his personal
hands-on involvement that embodies all the characteristics of social leadership
that we hope to instill in the next generation, and I thank him with all my
heart for helping us realize this dream."
Prof. Amos Drory, vice
president for external affairs and one of the founders and former deans of the
Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management, adds, “This donation has
made it possible to create the highest quality educational program to train the
next generation of nonprofit managers while broadening the scope of research in
the field and make a real impact on the quality of NGO [non-governmental
organization] management in Israel. This is the Mandel Foundation’s unique
vision and this is likewise part of our DNA. A perfect match!”
About the programs
Social leadership requires the
integration of advanced management knowledge, leadership skills and a deep
commitment to social improvement. The objective of the Jack, Joseph and Morton
Mandel MBA Program in Social Leadership is to train and develop top leaders for
the nonprofit and public sectors in Israel. The MBA Program in Social Leadership
is unique - it is the only master’s degree program of its kind in any Israeli
university. The curriculum includes standard MBA courses in management and
courses that focus on the special challenges of leadership in the nonprofit and
public sectors.
Established in 1997, the Israel Center for Third-Sector
Research (ICTR) conducts policy-relevant research on Israel’s nonprofit sector.
Composed of an interdisciplinary team, ICTR works in close cooperation with
research centers and associations around the world.