Glickman donates $5 million gift for Hillel at UCSD

LA JOLLA, California (Press Release) – Hillel of San Diego on Sunday, April 10, announced a $5 million gift to build its proposed Hillel Center for Jewish Life near UC San Diego. Received from Joseph “Chickie” Glickman, this donation is the lead gift in the campaign to build the Beverly & Joseph Glickman Hillel Center to serve Jewish students at UC San Diego.

“We are extremely grateful for this generous gift,” said Rabbi David Singer, Director of UC San Diego Hillel. “The Glickman Hillel Center will be the convening space for Jewish life on campus, and is the remaining critical piece we need to make sure that all students are welcomed into the community and have a platform for developing as leaders and thriving as Jews.”

The Glickman Hillel Center is nearing the end of the City of San Diego review process and will soon be before the City Council for approval. Robert Lapidus, past president of Hillel of San Diego, has been the lead volunteer championing the project. For more than 15 years, Hillel supporters — most significantly, the Melvin Garb Foundation and the Potiker Family — have carried the project through numerous political and legal hurdles as Hillel has sought approval from the city to build the new facility.

“We are excited to be close to bringing the project to public hearing after so many years and much effort,” said Lapidus.

The gift from Chickie Glickman represents an important step forward for the project, which – pending the review process and a successful capital campaign – will be constructed on the lot owned by Hillel at the intersection of La Jolla Village Drive and Torrey Pines Road.

The gift for the Glickman Hillel Center was announced at Hillel’s Campus SuperStar fundraising event by Chickie’s daughter and granddaughter, Elaine Galinson and Laura Galinson, who were being honored along with Chickie by Hillel for their ongoing support of the organization.

“Hillel is the answer to one of the most important challenges of our time,” said Elaine Galinson. “At a time when young people are setting patterns for their adult lives, Hillel offers sophisticated, compelling programs to help ensure that the next generation embraces and renews the Jewish values and traditions that will guide them as they become the leaders  of tomorrow.”

As the night went on, ten college students – all from a diversity of backgrounds – performed in an American Idol-style competition for $7,500 in prizes. A panel of judges from the music and entertainment industry narrowed the field down to the top three, and the audience voted to determine the winners. The winner was Jazmine Rogers from MiraCosta College. The second place runner up was Rachel Rothman from San Diego State University, and Jack French from Point Loma Nazarene University came in third place. Sponsors for the event included Hughes Marino, Carelton Management, and Joan & Irwin Jacobs.

n affiliated with Hillel International.