Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson will be donating $13 million to the Israeli American Council, the organization of Israelis in the United States that works to strengthen the connection between Israel and American Jewish communities.
The Adelsons announced their upcoming donation at a gala dinner in Los Angeles marking the 10th anniversary of the group's founding. The Adelsons have donated $50 million to the IAC in recent years, which has helped it become one of the fastest-growing Jewish groups in North America.
The IAC is active in 27 states and on over 80 college campuses nationwide. It recently had notable success in helping combat the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement that seeks to isolate Israeli internationally.
When Adelson, a billionaire businessman, was asked what prompts the couple to donate such large amounts, he said that nothing can compare to being the cement that links one generation of Jews to the next and to their homeland, Israel.
"The IAC has achieved remarkable progress in advancing its historic mission," Sheldon Adelson said in a statement released by the IAC. "We are deeply invested in the organization's long-term success and its vision of a coast-to-coast community with Israel in its heart. This is an investment in the future generations of Jewish Americans and the State of Israel."
Dr. Miriam Adelson said that as early as 2013, she had realized the great potential of the IAC.
"We are proud to be part of this remarkable development, which is bringing the Jewish-American community closer to Israel," she said.
The IAC Board of Directors praised the Adelsons for their generous support, saying they are "among the great Jewish leaders of our time. Their bold vision, passionate leadership, and unmatched generosity have been an inspiration to all of us, and have propelled the IAC's rapid growth and great success."
Businessman Haim Saban also attended the gala and announced he would be donating $1 million to the group.
The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom.
