Briefly Noted: Reagan Friends Raising Money and $70-Million Donated to Birthright Israel

A group of Southern California philanthropists who are friends of Ronald Reagan is raising $180-million in his honor for two institutions. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, in Simi Valley, Calif., is to receive $30-million for endowment, and the new Medical Center at the University of California at Los Angeles is to receive $150-million. A total of $80-million has been raised so far. … Fourteen donors have collectively contributed $70-million to Birthright Israel, a non-profit organization that provides free and subsidized trips to Israel for Jewish young adults. Birthright Israel was founded last year by the philanthropists Michael Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman, who committed $5-million apiece. Since then, nine other individuals, two couples, and Hadassah have each contributed $5-million to the venture. The donors are: Leonard Abramson, Edgar M. Bronfman, Richard Goldman, Vladimir Goussinsky, Ronald S. Lauder, Marc Rich, Arthur and Rebecca Sandberg, Charles R. Schusterman, Lew Wasserman, Leslie and Abigail Wexner, and Gary L. Winnick.