Israel’s Emergency Medical Service receives $88 million in donations led by Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg said Monday he would donate nearly $44 million to Magen David Adom, Israel’s nonprofit emergency medical service, following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on civilians and soldiers.
The former New York City mayor and billionaire philanthropist said he planned to match the contributions he requested in an email appeal for the American Friends of Magen David Adom. The total amounts to a gift of $88 million, the largest in the history of the American organization.
“America has always been a friend of Israel and I am encouraged that so many of us are standing by their ally in these challenging times,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “It is important to show the world that we are united in our condemnation of Hamas and committed to protecting the health and safety of all Israelis.”
Magen David Adom, also known as the Israeli Red Cross, functions as Israel’s emergency medical system, blood bank and disaster relief organization. The new money will buy ambulances, medical equipment and ballistic vests and helmets for first responders, said Catherine Reed, CEO of American Friends of Magen David Adom. Last week, the organization shipped 17 new ambulances to Israel and plans to ship more in the coming days.
Mr. Bloomberg has supported the organization for decades, giving several million dollars to fund an emergency medical station and blood donation center in Jerusalem named after his late father, William H. Bloomberg. He also funded a health center at Hadassah University Medical Center dedicated to his mother, Charlotte R. Bloomberg.
Still, his latest contribution marks a significant expansion of the efforts of a donor who has largely focused his donations on domestic issues, including gun control, immigration and urban policy.
Mark Lebow, the chairman of the American Friends of Magen David Adom and a longtime associate of Mr. Bloomberg, contacted the former mayor shortly after the attacks to request a financial contribution. The size of the response to his request for matching gifts surprised Mr. Bloomberg and his team, who initially expected to raise perhaps a quarter of the total, Mr. Bloomberg’s aides said.
During the eleven days they made their appeal, almost 34,000 donors gave. The donations spanned the country, from major donors funding ambulances to children organizing bake sales and lemonade stand fundraisers, the organization said.
“I don’t think we ever imagined the competition would turn out the way it did,” Ms. Reed said. “This is quite a transformative gift.”