A gift that can make a new generation of dreams come true
A gift that can make a new generation of dreams come true
May 28, 2024
Daniel Klionsky
Everyone has a story that’s worth telling, and everyone can have a positive impact on future generations. That was the belief that spurred Daniel Klionsky to start an endowment fund through Americans for Ben-Gurion University — and he hopes others will do the same.
Daniel has a deep history with Israel. He studied at the Nativ Angli at Sde Boker. His father, a well-known academic pathologist, helped establish the Department of Pathology at the Soroka Medical Center and the BGU Medical School curriculum. During their time at BGU, his parents found a home in Schunat Roscoe and Daniel remembers the time as “transformational.”
When he graduated high school at 17, Daniel returned to Israel for what he thought would be a gap year. He became an Israeli citizen and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces in 1978. He served with the Paratroopers in the 890 Battalion as a combat soldier for three years. During that time, the Bashan family not only housed him in Nir Banim, a moshav in southern Israel, but they also gave him a home.
When his military service came to an end in 1981, as a lone soldier and young immigrant, Daniel had more questions than answers. He wanted to stay, but at the time, there was a lack of support. His rights as an immigrant had been frozen during his military service, and faced with all the hurdles of starting over in Israel, it made more sense to return to the U.S. There he married, raised a family, grew his career, and maintained a deep relationship to Israel and his community there.
Supporting young immigrants and lone soldiers
The Daniel Klionsky Scholarship Endowment Fund supports an annual scholarship at BGU. It aims to support a student who has served as a lone soldier in the IDF, or, if there are no eligible lone soldier candidates, a student who served in an IDF combat unit.
The scholarship structure was informed by Daniel’s experience and a desire to make an impact on Israel.
Endowments are long-term funds made up of a variety of investments, which produce an annual payout for a specific purpose and can be created by one-time donations or recurring payments. This flexibility has a democratizing effect, allowing people from all walks of life to make an impact, while also inviting a personalized approach where donors can choose who and what they most want to support.
The Daniel Klionsky Scholarship Endowment Fund has two distinct elements built into its structure. First, once someone has qualified for the scholarship, they do not have to worry about requalifying for the funding as long as they are an active BGU student. Second, it will make it easier for other immigrants and lone soldiers to stay in Israel if they so desire by providing the necessary support, encouragement, and peace of mind. Students who receive the Fund also receive a personal statement to ensure they learn the story behind the endowment.
“I want the recipients to know they are supported, and that their dreams and visions are valid,” he said. “I want them to know — somebody else walked down this path before you and is trying to make your ability to continue to contribute to Israeli society easier.”
Securing a better future
Beyond the benefits the endowment fund gives its recipients, Daniel hopes it will motivate others to make their unique mark. He says endowment funds aren’t limited to people with wealth but can be an accessible way of giving. A4BGU can work with donors to develop a plan that works for their budget so that anyone who wants to do good in the world can make a difference for the nation’s future with the multigenerational gift of an endowment.
“Anyone’s story can be a positive influence for the future,” he said. “By stepping up in a way that speaks to them, who knows what future generations may be able to accomplish.”
Stories Like This
