Hillel honors visionary philanthropists at a gala dinner in New York.  From left to right: Michael Steinhardt, Charles Bronfman, Hillel President Wayne L. Firestone and Lynn Schusterman.

More than 700 guests were on hand as Hillel presented its first Renaissance Award to three visionary philanthropists, Charles Bronfman, Lynn Schusterman and Michael Steinhardt, at a gala event at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on May 21.
 
In presenting the award to the honorees, Hillel International Board of Governors Chairman Edgar M. Bronfman said: “This award honors individuals whose bold vision and transformative initiatives enrich the campus, the Jewish community and the world. I must reveal that we created this award with you in mind. You set an extremely high standard for others to achieve.”
 
With record-setting attendance, the event achieved another goal by raising over $2 million for Hillel.

Hillel students, Steinhardt Jewish Campus Service Corps alumni and Taglit-birthright israel participants were highlighted during the evening.  New Haven NBC television reporter Andrew Pergam, an alumnus of Taglit-birthright israel from Johns Hopkins University, served as the master of ceremonies, while entertainment was provided by the Yale University Hillel a cappella group, Magevet, and Chana Rothman and the Taglit-birthright Israel All-Stars.
 
Hillel President Wayne Firestone thanked the honorees for their leadership and the guests for their support of Hillel. He pledged to find new ways to engage uninvolved Jewish students on campus and to fulfill Hillel’s mission of “enriching the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.”