Donor gives Tulane $1 million to encourage others to give
Warren G. Lichtenstein, founder and executive chairman of the global holdings company Steel Partners Holdings, has given a $1 million gift to spur first-time donors to support "Only the Audacious," the campaign for an ever bolder Tulane.
Lichtenstein’s gift establishes the Steel Partners Challenge, which will match gifts to Tulane that are not restricted for a specific purpose but are given to support the goals of "Only the Audacious."
“Once again, in the most inspiring and generous manner, Warren Lichtenstein has shown his support for Tulane’s mission of lifesaving and transformative research and scholarship,” said Tulane President Mike Fitts. “The Steel Partners Challenge will increase the impact of all giving to Tulane and, in turn, the power of the Tulane community to bring about positive and lasting change in the world.”
“It’s important to reach young alumni and get people, in general, more engaged early on with even a little bit of giving.”
Tulane donor Warren G. Lichtenstein
The Steel Partners Challenge reflects Lichtenstein’s commitment to encouraging personal philanthropy and to building a wide community of donors at Tulane, which he attended. Structured as a “matching gift challenge,” Lichtenstein’s gift matches all first-time donations to Tulane, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 per household.
“It’s important to reach young alumni and get people, in general, more engaged early on with even a little bit of giving,” Lichtenstein said. “As time goes on, they are likely to have a greater affinity toward the university and be more willing to give as they progress in their careers and their lives.”
Matching gift challenges like the Steel Partners Challenge, encourage collective giving from throughout the Tulane community, allowing new donors to support critical Tulane projects and initiatives that resonate with them. The Steel Partners Challenge will offer alumni, parents, friends and fans the opportunity to give to Tulane knowing that their gifts will be doubled, making their impact even greater.
Lichtenstein founded Steel Partners Foundation in 2001 as a way to support philanthropic causes within the communities where he and his family live and work, with an emphasis on causes related to children, education and sports. The foundation has provided funding to many different charitable organizations including the Our Kids First Foundation (which Lichtenstein co-founded), Chabad Jewish Community Center in Aspen Valley, Colorado and Positive Coaching Alliance. Recent initiatives include sponsoring South Bay Opioid Awareness week in partnership with the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and sponsoring a conference on parental alienation to be held on Oct. 5, 2019 in Frankfort, Kentucky.
