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Continuing The Legacy from page 15

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An artist's rendering of the proposed Hadassah Medical Center tower

Karen Davidson's extraordinary gift
underscores their belief in the excellence
of Hadassah's medical institutions, where
state-of-the-art treatment has earned
international recognition and cutting-edge
research impacts lives worldwide."

Support For Israel
The Davidson's landmark gift toward the
$210 million in-patient tower, which will
house 500 beds, 20 operating rooms, 50
intensive-care beds and facilities for medi-
cal research, also is a show of support for
Israel and Jerusalem.
This was clear when Aaron met
with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on
Davidson's behalf.
"The prime minister had already spo-
ken to Mr. Davidson and thanked him
for his gift and his vote of confidence
on behalf of all Israel," Aaron said. "He
said Hadassah Hospital is a symbol of
Jerusalem and Israel, and that his commit-
ment to erect this tower will stand toward
the building of Jerusalem."
Hadassah Medical Organization, with
its Ein Kerem and Mt. Scopus centers, is
the second-largest employer in Jerusalem
after the Israel government. The facilities
long have been known for research and

16

March 8 • 2007

patient care, which extends to all citizens
of Israel without regard to religion, ethnic-
ity or nationality
"I've always admired the concept of
Henrietta Szold's from the beginning of
servicing all the people in the area, and
[back] then there was not a state of Israel:'
Davidson said.

Philanthropic Drive
Davidson built Guardian Industries into
one of the world's leading manufacturers
of float glass and fabricated glass prod-
ucts for the architectural and automo-
tive industries. He also owns the Detroit

Pistons (NBA), the Detroit Shock (WNBA)
and the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
and several local entertainment venues
including the Palace of Auburn Hills and
the DTE Energy Music Theatre. In 2006,
Forbes magazine estimated his worth at
$3.5 billion.
Though his secular gifts, most notably
to the University of Michigan business
school, have been significant, Davidson
has a long history of giving to Israel and
Jewish education (see box).
"Bill does not do things small — he
does it big and he does it right," said obert
Aronson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of

Davidson's Jewish Imprint

• Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower, Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem, Israel
• William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, Jewish Theological
Seminary of America, New York, plus support for the seminary's Etz Chaim
Torah and Commentary now used in many Conservative synagogues nationally
• William Davidson Institute of Science Education, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot,
Israel
• Ethan and Marla Davidson Center, Jerusalem Archeological Park, Jerusalem,
Israel (The site includes 70 meters of the Western Wall and the remains of
Robinson's Arch.)
• Support to the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem for gradu-
ate school scholarships and faculty

Metropolitan Detroit and a philanthropic
adviser for Davidson. "It's a pleasure and
an honor to work with him.
"This gift is a great reflection on our
community. Bill himself is a great reflec-
tion on our community. It shows again
what wonderful things can come out of
Detroit, especially in Jewish philanthropy. I
am very moved; this will make a huge dif-
ference for the people of Israel, both Arab
and Jew."
The Sarah Wetsman Davidson building
is expected to open by 2012, in time for
the centennial of Hadassah's founding. Li

Jewish Philanthropy

William and Karen Davidson's $75
million gift on behalf of Guardian
Industries Corp. to Hadassah
Medical Center is believed to be
the second largest single gift to a
Jewish institution. The single larg-
est gift to a Jewish organization was
$100 million given in 2006 by busi-
nessman Ronald Stanton to Yeshiva
University in New York.

