American Friends of the Hebrew University 2025 Scopus Award Event in Palm Beach Celebrates Hebrew University's Centennial
American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) presented the 2025 Scopus Award to philanthropists Ali and Lew Sanders on Thursday, January 16th, at The Breakers in Palm Beach, commemorating 100 years of excellence at Israel’s premier institute of higher learning and research, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The event proceeds will provide funding for the recently established Center for Computational Medicine at the Hebrew University. Computational Medicine holds the promise to revolutionize healthcare by harnessing the power of big data and AI to replace the traditional one-size-fits-all treatment with personalized, data-driven treatments for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. A portion of the proceeds will provide funding for counseling services, financial relief, and scholarship assistance for students returning to Hebrew University following military service.
The Sanders are renowned philanthropists who have made significant contributions to many causes, including AFHU, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University, and Weill Cornell Medical College. They have also generously supported the Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at expediting early-stage drug discovery into innovative treatments and therapies for patients. Lew Sanders is the founder, CEO, and Co-CIO of Sanders Capital, a value-oriented investment manager serving institutional and high-net-worth clients.
“Ali and Lew Sanders have been extremely generous and supportive of Hebrew University, contributing to student and research initiatives in these challenging times,” said AFHU Chief Executive Officer Joshua Rednik. “Their unwavering support, along with the support of those attending this event, will advance the future of medicine and provide critical assistance to our students.”
“We are here tonight to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Hebrew University,” said Ali and Lew Sanders. “The University plays a pivotal role in Israel, translating knowledge to competitive advantage, research to relevance, and excellence—in many dimensions—to the strength of character attributes that are the foundation for the lasting success of its students and society at large. We are honored to receive the Scopus Award and are excited about the opportunity to help make a difference.”
As part of the evening’s entertainment, the event featured Israeli stars who have competed on X Factor Israel and showcased their remarkable talents and spirit.
Named for Mount Scopus, the award has come to symbolize the University’s highest ideals of achievement, leadership, and philanthropic engagement. The Scopus Award is bestowed upon individuals with a legacy of humanitarian concerns throughout their lives. Previous Scopus Award recipients include Barbra Streisand, Leonard Bernstein, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Elie Wiesel, among others.
