Alliance for Global Good and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Forge Strategic Partnership
Alliance for Global Good and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Forge Strategic Partnership
May 2, 2011
NEW YORK, May 3, 2011 – American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Americans for Ben-Gurion University www.aabgu.org) has received a $100,000 initial contribution from the Alliance for Global Good (AFGG www.afgg.org) for strategic program partnerships. The AFGG contribution will fund three innovative research programs at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) that will advance education, water resource management and health care in Jordan and Ethiopia.
“The Alliance for Global Good, generously supported by Leonard Kaplan, has identified some of the most significant programs taking place at BGU that are focused on innovation and research to solve global problems,” explains Americans for Ben-Gurion University Executive Vice President Doron Krakow. “Our organizations’ missions are closely aligned and we look forward to the success of this ongoing strategic partnership.”
“One of the Alliance’s central objectives is to improve the practice of philanthropy by adopting a novel business model that connects discriminating donors with the highest quality programs,” says David M. Brand, AFGG chief executive officer. “Specific initiatives selected by the Alliance and its program partners reflect the interests and expertise expressed by Alliance donor partners.”
The following BGU programs chosen by the Alliance are focused on making a positive change in Jordan and Ethiopia:
- Israel-Jordan Academic Emergency Medicine Collaboration
Currently, 14 Jordanian students take part in this groundbreaking program at BGU, working alongside their Israeli counterparts to earn the only university-based academic degree for paramedics in the Middle East. The new initiative, funded in part by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MASHAV), reflects BGU’s and Israel’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and regional peace. These students recently participated in an Israel-Jordan earthquake response exercise, the latest example of this important cross border program. The AFGG funding will underwrite equipment and student participation. - Deworming Program in Mekele, Ethiopia
BGU’s Center for Emerging Tropical Diseases and AIDS (CEMTA) focuses on the prevention and treatment of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the developing world. A parasitic worm accounts for a large part of the annual deaths caused by NTDs. In Mekele, Ethiopia, BGU Prof. Zvi Bentwich has achieved dramatic results in decreasing the prevalence of schistosomiasis to nearly zero among the 70,000 treated in this city with a population of 250,000. In order to deworm the entire city within the next two years, AFGG is providing the funding for personnel, surveys and educational materials. - Israel-Jordan Solar Desalinization Program
BGU is at the forefront of cost-effective desalinization of water through solar energy. The University is conducting research in Aqaba, Jordan and Israel (Hatzeva and Ashdod) to improve the availability of and access to fresh water. Additional funding is being provided by AFGG to support doctoral fellows who can continue to refine the most promising applications.
About the Alliance for Global Good
Founded by philanthropist Leonard Kaplan out of concern for global crises that threaten the world of his children and grandchildren, the Alliance for Global Good connects smart donors to smart social investments. Seeking to avoid philanthropic inefficiency and ineffectiveness, the Alliance evaluates and engages in opportunities for impact in five areas: health, poverty, education, the environment, and world relations. It acts through a partnership model, building robust relationships with both program partners and donor partners (www.afgg.org).
ABOUT AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY
By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. David Ben-Gurion envisioned that Israel’s future would be forged in the Negev. The cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University drives that vision by sustaining a desert Silicon Valley, with the “Stanford of the Negev” at its center. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU’s remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.
About Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev embraces the endless potential we have as individuals and as a commonality to adapt and to thrive in changing environments. Inspired by our location in the desert, we aim to discover, to create, and to develop solutions to dynamic challenges, to pose questions that have yet to be asked, and to push beyond the boundaries of the commonly accepted and possible.
We are proud to be a central force for inclusion, diversity and innovation in Israel, and we strive to extend the Negev’s potential and our entrepreneurial spirit throughout the world. For example, the multi-disciplinary School for Sustainability and Climate Change at BGU leverages over 50 years of expertise on living and thriving in the desert into scalable solutions for people everywhere.
BGU at a glance:
20,000 students | 800 senior faculty | 3 campuses | 6 faculties: humanities & social sciences, health sciences, engineering sciences, natural sciences, business & management, and desert research.
For all press inquiries, please contact:
James Fattal, J Cubed Communications
516.289.1496
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