$80 Million Given to GWU to Advance Disease Prevention, Wellness
The institution's Board of Trustees has approved the renaming its School of Public Health and Health Services as the Milken Institute School of Public Health and also creation of the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness.
Three gifts totaling $80 million to George Washington University set a new record for the institution and have significantly boosted its profile in disease prevention and wellness promotion. GWU announced the gifts are $40 million from Milken Institute, $30 million from the Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation and $10 million from the Milken Family Foundation.
As a result, the institution's Board of Trustees has approved the renaming its School of Public Health and Health Services as the Milken Institute School of Public Health and also creation of the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness.
"These extraordinary gifts collectively represent the largest donation ever received by the George Washington University. Such a generous contribution to the university demonstrates a commitment to the health of people all over the world," said Board of Trustees Chairman Nelson A. Carbonell Jr.
The Milken Institute gift will support new and ongoing research and scholarships, while the Milken Family Foundation gift supports the Milken Institute School dean's office, including a newly created public health scholarship program.
"For decades, Mike Milken and Sumner Redstone have exemplified philanthropy of the most visionary and powerful kind," said George Washington University President Steven Knapp. "These new resources will greatly enhance our university's capacity to address global health challenges with life-altering solutions."
"The Milken Institute and the Milken Family Foundation have long worked to advance public health and medical progress," said Mike Milken, chairman of the institute and co-founder of the foundation. "Sumner Redstone and the Redstone Foundation have partnered with us in previous efforts, and we are honored to have them join in these new initiatives centered at GW."
Redstone said the university "has long been a world-class center for public health research, scholarship and action. I am proud to join the Milken Institute and Milken Family Foundation in supporting this great institution's efforts to help fight some of the biggest health issues of our time and give millions access to healthier and longer lives."
A dedication ceremony for the new Milken Institute School building and the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness at 950 New Hampshire Ave. NW in Washington, D.C., will be held this spring. The Milken Institute building is nearly completed, nine-story, LEED-certified structure.