The Adelsons Continue Their Campaign Giving
The casino magnate gives another $40 million to Birthright
May 23, 2013
Sheldon and Miriam Adelson.(Wikimedia)
The election season might be over (for now) but Sheldon and Miriam Adelsons aren’t giving up contributions to high-profile campaigns. Their latest contribution is a cool $40 million to Birthright Israel, bringing their lifetime total contribution to the program to a super-high super-chai $180 million.
“Sheldon and I are committed to improving the world through cultural exchange and educational opportunity,” said Miriam Adelson in a statement released Wednesday by Birthright Israel, which offers Jews aged 18 to 26 a free 10-day trip to Israel. “Exposing young Jews to Israel helps broaden their awareness and deepen their cultural identity. We are committed to the goal of all young Jewish adults having the opportunity to be inspired by their ancestral homeland.”
In recent years, the Adelsons have given major donations to several Jewish institutions and organizations. In 2011, they donated $25 million to Yad Vashem, bringing their overall donations to the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem to $50 million. Other recipients of their largesse include the Shalem Center, a think tank in Jerusalem, and the Zionist Organization of America.
This may sounds like a lot, but for world’s 15th wealthiest man, it’s mere chump change. And with his bets on Israel paying off more than his bets on America, this could help his winning percentage.
Adam Chandler was previously a staff writer at Tablet. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Slate, Esquire, New York, and elsewhere. He tweets @allmychandler.
