Adelsons to donate $25M to Ariel University

Adelsons receive two antique Bar-Kochba era coins at Ariel University.

U.S. business magnate Sheldon Adelson and wife Miriam, have pledged $25 million to Ariel University’s School of Medical and Health Sciences as part of their deep and unwavering commitment to the City of Ariel and the State of Israel.

The Adelsons will donate $5 million to develop the university’s pre-medical school, and another $20 million to expand the medical program in accordance with its growth. The medical school is expected to develop coursework in occupational therapy, medical chemistry, and emergency medicine, above and beyond the institution’s existing health related programs, by incorporating clinical and practical studies with the latest in scientific research.

“All my years in business have taught me that when a crack opens up in one place you don’t just need to seal it, you need to strengthen the entire wall, and sometimes the entire building,” Adelson said.

From its vantage point in the capital of Samaria, Ariel University has ascended quickly in academic achievement since its founding as a college 1982. Currently, with more than 14,000 students, Ariel University offers Bachelor’s degrees through 26 different departments, Master’s degree programs for M.A., M.B.A. and M.Sc., and Ph.D. programs.

Dr. Miriam Adelson told Arutz Sheva that the contribution “comes from a belief in the ability of Ariel University to serve as an academic center of excellence in the heart of Israel and to be a bridge between the parts of the nation, and between us and the Arabs of Samaria”.

According to Avi Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Ariel Development Fund, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson’s gift couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

“Thanks to the generous gift of Sheldon and Miriam Adelson and the guidance of Ariel Mayor Eli Shaviro, our efforts to develop a regional emergency medical center and health clinic building on Ariel University campus are well underway, ” Zimmerman said.

“The city’s diversity and geographical positioning make the Adelsons’ contribution one that will truly reach every person living in the region,” Zimmerman added. “The developing new medical program will address the country’s need for highly-qualified physicians and health practitioners, and will complement the establishment of a long awaited regional medical center here in Ariel.”