Hebrew U. Cops a Coup: Gates to Accept Award

July 17, 2008

NEW YORK (JTA) -- Usually a "mazel tov" would go to the person being honored, but this week, the American Friends of the Hebrew University is accepting congratulations for convincing one of the world's richest men to accept an award.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates will receive the inaugural Einstein Award, said the American fundraising arm of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

The award, which will be presented to Gates in December at a gala dinner in New York, is named for Albert Einstein, who helped found the university.

It will be given only rarely to those who have made a significant impact on humanity, according to the organization's executive director, Peter Willner.

American Friends officials say that this is the first time that Gates is accepting an award from a Jewish or Israeli entity.

Only he was considered to be the first recipient of the award, which has been in the works for six years, said Willner.

American Friends, which raises about $60 million a year for Hebrew University, was in discussions with Gates for more than a year before he accepted.

Willner stated that Gates decided to attach his name to the university because of its vast work in sustainable agriculture.

Whereas the Rockefeller Foundation was perhaps the most influential charitable arm in the 20th century, observers of the philanthropic scene these days are pointing to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Since its launch in 1994, the foundation has given away more than $16 billion. Its efforts appear only likely to increase, with Warren Buffet announcing in 2006 that he would donate some $30 billion to the cause.

Gates stepped down last month from his job at Microsoft to work full time at the foundation, which principally supports health and humanitarian projects in the developing world.