The Impact of Philanthropy Summer 2023
Major gifts and partnerships position GW as a world leader in food system solution delivery, open doors of opportunity for the next generation America’s doctors, support graduate fellowships in the Art Therapy Program, advance public health in the Caribbean and Latin America, endow intellectual property and technology law professorships, and provide student aid. Read more about how donors are furthering academic excellence at GW and helping the university achieve its mission of teaching, research, patient care and service.
"The Global Food Institute will reshape how we think about food, break down barriers across industries, politics and nations, and inspire and empower the next generation to develop systemic solutions that reshape the food system."
José Andrés
The George Washington University and world-renowned chef, author and humanitarian José Andrés, HON ’14, announced in May a historic partnership to launch a premier Global Food Institute at the university, a transformative and unprecedented collaboration that will be the world leader in food system solution delivery.
GW is uniquely positioned to drive global progress in the food space, thanks to its location in the heart of the nation’s capital, depth of academic expertise across countless disciplines, track record of leading critical conversations in the public and private sectors and partnerships with global influencers from the White House to the World Bank.
“In The George Washington University’s third century, we are focused on accelerating the positive impact of our interdisciplinary scholarship on society, including through innovative partnerships with visionary leaders,” said GW President Mark S. Wrighton. “We are thrilled to establish in partnership with José Andrés the Global Food Institute—a center that will create new knowledge and shape national and international progress on food system issues.”
Driven by Andrés’ vision of changing the world through the power of food, the Global Food Institute at GW will work to transform people’s lives and the health of the planet, taking an interdisciplinary systems approach across three main pillars: policy, innovation and humanity.
The institute will enable faculty and students, industry leaders, policymakers and renowned experts to work and teach across these pillars, producing cutting-edge research to create and improve domestic and global food policies, incubate and engineer inventive new technologies and entrepreneurial spirit, and lead critical conversations about the impact of food on the human race.
“Our global food system is experiencing a crisis, brought on by systemic inequities, rampant hunger and poverty, the climate crisis, and deteriorating public health and nutrition,” said Andrés. “But food has the power to solve problems: It can rebuild lives and communities, heal both people and the planet and create hope for the future, but only if we think bigger. The Global Food Institute will reshape how we think about food, break down barriers across industries, politics and nations, and inspire and empower the next generation to develop systemic solutions that reshape the food system.”
Over a decade ago, GW and Andrés introduced the interdisciplinary course, “The World on a Plate: How Food Shapes Civilization,” forging an academic partnership that fueled ambitions for much greater impact.
“GW has a 200-year track record of exceptional academic collaboration and interdisciplinary research and teaching. Our location in the heart of our nation’s capital makes it the ideal place for the brightest minds across disciplines to convene, develop innovative research and solutions and educate the next generation of advocates to drive the food systems change we need,” said Christopher Alan Bracey, GW’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
Critically, the Global Food Institute will prioritize educating and training future generations of diverse leaders spanning many careers who will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to approach their professional and academic pursuits through the lens of food and help create food solutions of tomorrow.
A founding gift from Andrés made the Global Food Institute possible, and the institute’s work will be powered by philanthropy and supported by partnerships with organizations, companies, foundations and individuals. A significant contribution from the Nelson A. and Michele M. Carbonell Family Foundation will endow the executive director position. The Rockefeller Foundation has also committed financial support for the Global Food Institute.
“We are incredibly honored by—and grateful for—the generous support from these visionary donors that share our aspirations to solve these seemingly intractable challenges,” said Donna A. Arbide, GW’s vice president for development and alumni relations. “It is testament to GW’s unique strengths and commitment to changing the world for the better that they chose to invest in our university to spearhead this initiative.”
Nelson Carbonell, a 1985 GW alumnus, chair emeritus of the GW Board of Trustees and 2021 honorary degree recipient, and his wife, Michele, strongly believe in the urgency around the Global Food Institute’s work and look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks.
“The time is right to embark on the changes to food issues that the world needs,” said Carbonell. “The multidisciplinary nature of the Global Food Institute is unparalleled, and Michele and I hope our gift provides the financial underpinning for GW to hire a proven leader to run it.”
In the coming months, the institute will launch a search for the executive director; identify additional leadership, staff and affiliated faculty; identify physical space; and begin to develop engagement opportunities for the community and potential partners.
Visit the Global Food Institute website for more information.
For Russell Libby, B.S. ’74, M.D. ’79, George Washington University has been a huge part of his life from the very beginning—literally.
Born at GW Hospital, Libby later earned a bachelor’s and a medical degree from GW, where he also currently serves as assistant clinical professor of pediatrics.
“The opportunity to become a physician in the special tradition unique to GW changed my life,” Libby said. “To be a physician is an incredible privilege, and being in a position to help improve the lives of our patients, communities and society is more fulfilling for me than any other endeavor could have afforded.”
But while becoming a physician might be fulfilling, it isn’t cheap. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, medical students incur a median debt level of $200,000.
“The cost of a medical education is staggering,” Libby said. “The debt incurred by many can discourage them from following their hearts, compromise their idealism and change their career choices.”
That’s why Libby and his wife, Dr. Mary Schmidt, established the Adopt-a-Doc Scholarship in 2010. The program—which was created to honor Libby’s late mother, Leona Libby Feldman—provides alumni and friends the opportunity to financially support an incoming GW medical student throughout their four years of medical school.
“He’s invested in future medical students and in finding the best way to support them,” Allison Hoff, M.D. ’15, the first Adopt-a-Doc recipient, now a board-certified psychiatrist in Colorado, said of Libby. “Dr. Libby has been an amazing advocate and inspiring mentor. I can’t thank him enough.”
Most recently, Libby and Schmidt “adopted” Stephano Bonitto, M.D. ’23. Bonitto said the scholarship alleviated the financial burden of attending medical school, which, in turn, allowed him to concentrate on learning.
“Going to medical school is not only rigorous but also costs a lot of money, and they ameliorated that for me,” he said. “I got to just focus on my studies and being the best I can be.”
Almost more important than the money, however, has been the relationship the three have built; Bonitto said that over the almost four years he’s known Libby and Schmidt, the two medical doctors have become amazing mentors who have shared a wealth of wisdom with him.
“To be a physician is an incredible privilege, and being in a position to help improve the lives of our patients, communities and society is more fulfilling for me than any other endeavor could have afforded.”
Russell Libby
B.S. ’74, M.D. ’79
“Every time we talk, I learn something new from them," Bonitto said. “I'm just extremely grateful for all the help that they give me.”
Likewise, the two donors said the most rewarding part of the program is the connections they’re able to form with the students they support.
“We want to help in every way that we can,” Libby said. “If it's financial, if it's emotional, if it's academic or if it's just professional—we just want to be there if there's anything that we can do.”
“We've been so proud to see what our students have accomplished and what they will accomplish,” Schmidt added. “Every student that we've had has been really honored to receive the scholarship and has taken a moment to share with us their plans for the future.”
As for Bonitto, he has big plans for his future. Although he had once dreamed of being a pediatrician, his experience at GW has inspired him to think bigger, and he now plans on also pursuing an M.B.A.
“Being in the nation’s capital for medical school allowed me to see that it's not just about being in the hospital—it's a much bigger system,” he said. “Now I have these much bigger dreams of affecting whole health systems by getting an M.B.A. and being a physician.”
And for Libby, that’s what the Adopt-a-Doc program is all about.
“It's truly an honor to be a physician,” he said, “so do something meaningful.”
Visit the Open Doors page to learn more about how GW is opening doors of opportunity for the next generation of leaders.
"Scholarships and fellowships not only open doors to the transformative power of education to the individual recipient but also have ripple effects to their families and communities."
President Mark S. Wrighton
During the worst of the pandemic, George Washington University parent Ulvi Kasimov knew he was not alone in feeling the anxiety rooted in isolation and fear for his family’s health.
“The pandemic negatively impacted everyone,” Kasimov said. “And there are not enough psychiatrists and psychologists in the world to address a problem of this magnitude.”
The prolific venture capitalist, passionate art collector and 2020 “Observer” Top 50 Most Influential Leader in the Art World decided to take a creative approach—literally—to improve wellness by supporting the growing need for credentialed art therapists. These mental health care professionals use concepts from psychology and counseling to engage patients through active artmaking as a means of communication and healing.
Support and promotion of art therapy globally is now the top corporate philanthropic initiative for .ART, the digital creative community hub and domain registry Kasimov founded with his wife, Reykhan. Launching their initiative with a $1 million endowment for graduate fellowships for students in GW’s Art Therapy Program, they recognized the critical need for financial support to attract and retain top students with a passion to serve.
“We are so grateful to the Kasimovs for this endowed fund that will support art therapy fellowships for generations,” said Heidi Bardot, director of the program. “The intense time commitment of classes and internships, plus their own personal creative development, doesn’t leave time for students to have outside employment to financially support their studies.”
Kasimov has big plans to multiply fellowship support for more students, explore opportunities for other partnerships leveraging his .ART community and interdisciplinary applications, and expand use of these therapeutic techniques into new settings such as refugee camps.
Last year, the Kasimovs made a $1 million donation to support bench-to-bedside medical research to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
“We appreciate the continuing support of the Kasimovs,” said President Mark S. Wrighton. “Scholarships and fellowships not only open doors to the transformative power of education to the individual recipient but also have ripple effects to their families and communities. This effect is particularly applicable to art therapists, who have great impact on their patients’ lives.”
Join GW in opening doors for talented students.
The center was established by a gift from veterinarian Holly Gill and James Lebovic, a professor of political science and international affairs at the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, to improve health outcomes, train students and health professionals and create sustainable models for healthier communities in the region. Their gift is the largest such contribution by GW faculty.
“I’ve been in academia a long time, and it’s very rare—in fact, in my experience, unprecedented—that a leader of our faculty would make such a commitment,” said GW President Mark S. Wrighton. Their gift, Wrighton said, “added to this school both distinction and distinguishability.”
Michael and Lori Milken Dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health Lynn Goldman noted that the new center will boost the work of public health faculty who are already working with communities in the region. “This center is focused on healthier communities across a region instead of a specific health issue in any one specific country. It is a unique approach and will have a true impact on addressing health disparities and improving public health,” she said.
“When you receive an endowed professorship, it not only celebrates your past and present work and contributions but also anticipates transformative contributions to legal education, knowledge production and the world of ideas, and perhaps most importantly a significant and impactful contribution to society.”
Christopher A. Bracey
Provost
An April ceremony honored faculty members F. Scott Kieff, installed as the Stevenson Bernard Professor of Law; Dawn C. Nunziato, installed as the Theodore and James Pedas Family Professor of Intellectual Property and Technology Law; and Daniel J. Solove, installed as the Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard Professor of Intellectual Property and Technology Law.
“I’m thrilled to see each of these individuals recognized for their pioneering research, their policy work, their education and their service to the university,” GW Provost Christopher A. Bracey said. “When you receive an endowed professorship, it not only celebrates your past and present work and contributions but also anticipates transformative contributions to legal education, knowledge production and the world of ideas, and perhaps most importantly, a significant and impactful contribution to society.”
IP law is concerned with the “full spectrum of human creativity” that may range from books, films and music to medical or other technology, according to a definition from “Understanding Intellectual Property Law.” The field is rapidly evolving as technology becomes increasingly complex and innovation expands into virtual spaces.
“All three of our distinguished honorees are gifted scholars, teachers and internationally renowned leaders at the forefront of their disciplines, and all three have selflessly given up their time and talent to help propel our law school to great new heights,” GW Law Dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law Dayna Bowen Matthew said.
Kieff served from 2013 to 2017 as commissioner of the U.S. International Trade Commission, having been nominated by President Barack Obama, recommended unanimously by the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Finance and confirmed by unanimous consent of the Senate. The Stevenson Bernard professorship is funded by the late Eugene “Gene” L. Bernard, J.D. ’51, and his wife, Barbara, and by the late Frederic C. Stevenson, B.A. ’34, J.D. ’38. Bernard served as an officer in the U.S. Navy and practiced intellectual property law for many decades in Washington, D.C. Stevenson served as an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The Bernards and Stevenson “were tremendous friends and generous supporters of GW Law,” President Mark S. Wrighton said at the event. “Upon their passing, their estates made a transformational gift, which has had an immediate impact on the school and intellectual property program. We want to extend our appreciation for them and their support for the university.”
Nunziato is an internationally recognized expert on free speech and the internet and the author of “Virtual Freedom: Net Neutrality and Free Speech in the Internet Age.” Donors and brothers Theodore and James Pedas, in whose honor Nunziato’s professorship is named, became involved in the motion picture business while attending GW Law. They founded the Circle Theatre company, which emphasized independent and foreign films, and Circle Films, whose production roster included early films by the Coen brothers.
Solove is one of the world’s most cited experts in privacy law, the founder of TeachPrivacy, a privacy and cybersecurity training company, and the author of numerous books, several textbooks and even a children’s fiction book. Like the Stevenson Bernard professorship, the Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard professorship is funded by the estate of Gene and Barbara Bernard.
The GW community worked together to raise funds to support scholarships and programs on campus during Giving Day 2023 in April, which resulted in the highest number of donations GW has ever received in a 24-hour period.
The focus of the 2023 campaign was to encourage more members of the GW community to engage in Giving Day. The university exceeded its goal of 2,750 donors, receiving gifts from nearly 3,200 alumni, students, faculty, staff, families and friends, a more than 22% increase from Giving Day 2022.
Daniel J. Burgner, the executive director of annual giving at GW, said it was amazing seeing the GW community join forces to reach a common goal.
“It was so inspiring to see the entire GW community come together to support our students on Giving Day,” Burgner said. “We set a goal this year to increase donor participation, and the GW community came out strong. GW Giving Day 2023 marks the most donors in a single 24-hour period in our university's history. One of the best parts of the day was watching community members posting and sharing on social media; the energy was incredible.”
GIVING DAY 2023
BY THE NUMBERS
3,200
DONORS
$1.2 M
DONATIONS
50
STATES
30
COUNTRIES
22%
INCREASE IN DONORS SINCE '22
The university received gifts from donors in all 50 states and in 30 countries, totaling over $1.2 million.
Burgner said the funds raised on Giving Day will profoundly impact students and the university community.
“People gave to athletic teams, student orgs, academic departments and research,” he said. “The community came out in force to donate to areas they are passionate about. We had over a quarter of a million come through for scholarships. Those scholarship gifts will go to work supporting our exceptional students.”
There were over 65 matches and challenges that amplified donor impact.
More than 400 students celebrated at the in-person Giving Day event in Kogan Plaza featuring GW-branded prizes, flowers and snacks.
“The Kogan Plaza event this year was so much fun. We had over 400 students come through and make gifts,” Burgner said. “So many students were asking about how their gift will make an impact and why it's important to give back. This was a great opportunity for students to learn how philanthropy creates the ‘only-at-GW moments’ that make this a world-class university.”
Ten GW schools and units exceeded their goals, with GW Hillel topping the leaderboard with 186% of its goal met.
“We've already started brainstorming for GW Giving Day 2024 and are thrilled to continue this tradition. Exciting things are happening at GW, and our donors came out in record numbers to show their support,” Burgner said.