American Technion Leads Fundraising for Higher Education in Israel
Thursday, November 15, 2007
By: Kevin Hattori

The American Technion Society (ATS) has earned a prominent position on The Chronicle of Philanthropy's 2007 list of the 400 top U.S. non-profit organizations. With its number 219 overall ranking, the ATS is the top fundraising organization for higher education in Israel. The ranking also places the group's fundraising results ahead of those of a number of well-known U.S. universities, including the likes of Carnegie Mellon University, Rice University and Virginia Tech.

In 2007, the ATS raised more than $100 million as part of its 13-year, $1 billion campaign. The organization has raised $822 million over the first 11 years of the campaign scheduled to end in 2009. The $1 billion goal places the ATS in the rarified company of 27 major U.S. universities with current campaigns of $1 billion or more (34 universities have completed such campaigns).

The continued success of the ATS is welcome news to the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel's leading science and technology university. Like all Israeli universities, the Technion faces continuing and severe budget cuts from the government. But because educating students in science and technology is more costly than educating them in liberal arts, the impact of these cuts - and the subsequent need for additional funding - is greater for the Technion.

Since its founding, the American Technion Society has raised $1.4 billion for the Technion, with 61 percent of that total raised in the last 11 years (and 90% since 1985), demonstrating the firm belief ATS supporters have in the Technion's increasing importance to Israel and the world.

"The American Technion Society offers people a chance to partner with the Technion, and be part of cutting-edge progress in science and technology," said Melvyn H. Bloom, executive vice president of the organization. "This is a unique opportunity to build an institution that builds the brainpower that builds a nation. With the unwavering efforts of our dedicated supporters around the country, we will continue to ensure that the Technion fulfills its vital role in Israel's future."

The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is Israel's leading science and technology university. Home to the country's winners of the Nobel Prize in science, it commands a worldwide reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, computer science, biotechnology, water-resource management, materials engineering, aerospace and medicine. The Technion's 18 faculties and 29 research centers and institutes in Haifa are home to 12,500 students and more than 825 faculty members. The majority of the founders and managers of Israel's high-tech companies are alumni.

The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is Israel's leading science and technology university. Home to the country's winners of the Nobel Prize in science, it commands a worldwide reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, computer science, biotechnology, water-resource management, materials engineering, aerospace and medicine. The majority of the founders and managers of Israel's high-tech companies are alumni. Based in New York City, the American Technion Society (ATS) is the leading American organization supporting higher education in Israel, with 22 offices around the country.

For more information, contact Kevin Hattori via email or call 212-407-6319.