David Merage Receives Ben-Gurion Award
Professor Daniel Chamovitz, The President of Ben-Gurion University, David Merage, Founder of the David & Laura Merage Foundation and Merage Foundation Israel, and Professor Haim Hames, The Rector of Ben-Gurion University. Photo Credit: Dani Machlis
On Wednesday, December 4th, the Ben-Gurion University located in Beer Sheva, Israel bestowed the inaugural Ben-Gurion Award on eight distinguished individuals for their contributions to the University, the community, and the Negev region of Israel. Among those who were honored was David Merage, venture philanthropist and founder of the David & Laura Merage Foundation, and Merage Foundation Israel. David was recognized for his leadership and commitment to increasing prosperity and quality of life in the Negev region of Israel.
Ben-Gurion Award Recipients: Prof. David Faiman, Prof. Shimon M. Glick, Prof. Shaul P. Ladany, David Merage and wife, Laura Merage, Ibrahim Nsasra, Tal Ohana, Kobi Oz, and Aviva Segev. Photo Credit: Dani Machlis
We have appreciation for David Merage, a visionary philanthropist, founding president of the David & Laura Merage Foundation, who has generously dedicated his time and energies to supporting early childhood education, arts and culture and Jewish life, as an expression of the traditional family values he acquired as a child and his belief that investment in empowering people will enrich the society in which they live.
President Professor Daniel Chamovitz of the Ben-Gurion University
For over 20 years, David and his family have positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in both the U.S. and Israel through their philanthropy. Merage Foundation Israel is dedicated to fostering the state of Israel’s prosperity and well-being through strategic community initiatives, including leading economic development and business infrastructure in the Negev region, and founding the lone soldiers program Wings, which supports lone soldier as they transition to civilian life in Israel after their service in the Israel Defense Forces.
