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The Philanthropy 50: Americans Who Gave the Most in 2008
Helen L. Kimmel
Rank: 12
Total amount committed in 2008: $156.5-million
Location: New York, New York
Source of wealth: Real estate
Donor's background: Mrs. Kimmel is the widow of Martin S. Kimmel, who co-founded Kimco Realty Corporation, a real-estate development company in New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Mrs. Kimmel pledged $150-million to New York University Langone Medical Center for a new patient facility, which will be named for Mrs. Kimmel and her husband, who died last April at the age of 92.
Although details about a payment schedule were not available, medical-center officials said the money would come in a combination of cash and securities.
A trustee of the medical center since 1984, Mrs. Kimmel said she and her late husband had been thinking about giving a large gift to the medical center for several years. She decided to pledge the money last year because she was impressed with the work of the medical center's dean, Robert I. Grossman.
"For me, I need to have supreme confidence in the leadership of an institution before I make this kind of a gift," said Mrs. Kimmel. "Since Dr. Grossman assumed the leadership of the center in July of 2007, he has inspired faculty, staff, and trustees alike with a vision for world-class excellence and taking the medical center to the next level."
She further cited Dr. Grossman's abilities to recruit new medical researchers and physicians, his efforts to improve patient care, and his work establishing new research centers and reinvigorating the medical school's academic programs in the short time he has been at the helm of the center as reasons why she pledged such a large gift.
In addition to the $150-million commitment, Mrs. Kimmel gave the medical center $4-million to establish a center for clinical treatment and research related to wound healing, the development of drugs that aid the healing process, and wound-care programs for medical students. She also donated $2.5-million to the medical center for a cardiology professorship.
Mrs. Kimmel serves on New York University's Board of Trustees and on the Board of Directors of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science and of the American Friends of the Israel Museum.
About These Data
The giving figures listed for each individual are based on donations announced to date by the donors or their beneficiaries. In cases of bequests, most of the figures are estimates because the wills have not been settled. For news of gift announcements in 2009, visit the America's Top Donors database.
If you know about a recent gift of $1-million or more that should be added to this directory, please send a message to gifts@philanthropy.com.