​Azrieli Foundation makes single largest donation to Bar-Ilan University

The Azrieli Foundation makes a 50 million dollar donation to the Bar Ilan University, the largest single donation every given by the Canadian philanthropic organization.

The funds, which were matched by the Israeli government, went to Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Medicine, which will now be known as the “Azrieli Faculty of Medicine” in Safed.

The faculty first opened its doors in October 2011 in response to a nationwide shortage of physicians and the need to upgrade medical services and infrastructure in the region. Now completing its sixth year of operation, the Medical School has already graduated close to 150 new physicians, and is home to nearly 550 students enrolled in MD programs, medical research programs, combined MD/PhD programs and postdoctoral programs.

“This school epitomizes so many of the values that matter to us,” said Naomi Azrieli, Chair and CEO of the Azrieli Foundation Canada. “It is one of the cornerstones of our organization to support excellence in, and access to, higher education, as well as to catalyze scientific and medical research. We are delighted to partner with Bar-Ilan to provide a new platform for clinical studies for students, and also to increase the capacity of the University and the country for basic medical research, which will have wide-reaching benefits.”