Local and international philanthropist Avrum Chudnow turned the tables at his 90th birthday bash last Sunday and chose to give a gift, rather than just to receive.
The long-time supporter of Jewish National Fund committed $1.5 million to jump-start a fundraising campaign for Phase III of the development of JNF’s Timna Valley National Park in the Negev Desert just north of Eilat, Israel’s southern-most city.
Chudnow was instrumental in the development of the park’s first and second phases, the latter of which opened in April 2002. The park now includes a lake for boating and swimming, a visitor’s center, a chronosphere (multi-media history), camping facilities, walking trails and history-related children’s activities.
The 17,500-acre area, which some call the “Yellowstone of Israel,” is known for its ancient copper mines and archeological history.
Cost of Phase III, the final phase, is estimated at $3.1 million. Chudnow committed to $1.5 million with a matching grant of 50-cents to the dollar at a minimum gift level of $10,000 to be raised nationwide.
The new phase comprises an interactive museum with a replica of the mines that allows visitors to experience how copper products were made.
Plans call for the project to be completed within two years.
Chudnow is a member of the JNF World Chairman’s Council, the society formed to recognize individuals who have donated $1 million or more to JNF over their lifetime.
In addition, he is the chairman of the Wisconsin JNF board and honorary vice president of the organization as well as the past president of the JNF Leadership Council.
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