This article was originally published in Weny News on July 22, 2020.

For many people, charitable contributions is something to feel good about and to include on a bio more than genuine support or an inspiration to make a real impact. For real estate investor Adam Milstein, philanthropy is much more than a monetary donation; it’s an opportunity to advance one of the most important issues of our time: the education of our future generations

Milstein, a native of Israel who served in the Israel Defense Forces during the historic Yom Kippur War, firmly believes that a solid education is the key to future success and accomplishments.

In 1981, Milstein immigrated to the United States from Haifa, Israel. Already a graduate of the Technion, the Israeli Institute of Technology, he decided to take his education one step further. He went on to receive his MBA from the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business.

Armed with new knowledge, ideas, and skills, Milstein pursued a career in the highly competitive commercial real estate industry. With hard work and determination, he became a managing partner for one of California’s most prestigious private real estate investment firms, where he oversees the company’s dispositions, finances, and property management. Even after achieving tremendous success, Adam wanted to do more and give back to the community.

Milstein is an active philanthropist, contributing time and resources to dozens of organizations who are making an impact in the world. Over more than a decade, Milstein has supported the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), donating seven figures per year. By committing these funds to AIEF, he helps provide about 50 college students each year the opportunity to visit Israel on a dynamic educational experience. By exploring the country firsthand, they gain a deeper understanding of Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas student and AIEF 2018 alum said:

“The AIEF program was an unparalleled experience. As someone who recently became engaged in politics and foreign affairs, I genuinely believe that this trip magnified the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship. The ability to be in Israel allowed me to discover my personal connection to its history, people, and places.”

Adam and his wife, Gila, have devoted an extraordinary amount of time and money to philanthropy. In the early 2000s, they established the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation (MFF) to help make a difference. Recently, Adam Milstein announced that he has transitioned into an active philanthropist almost full-time.

“Like any successful business venture, we realize that we must be fully committed to our philanthropic investments – not only by contributing financial resources, but also by sharing our business vision, connections, marketing skills, operational know-how, foundation staff time, and constant focus on improving the effectiveness of the programs we are supporting,” he told a philanthropic journal last year. “After working for many years with a variety of organizations, we realized there were ways to improve philanthropy focused on Israel and the Jewish people to achieve greater impact.”

In 2018, Milstein was recognized as one of the world’s most influential philanthropists by London-based publication Richtopia in coordination with social media ranking system Rise. Global. Through Facebook and Twitter, he has been able to influence change on key issues.

A co-founder of the Israeli-American Council (IAC), he remains focused on advancing education on Israel, strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, and combating hatred in America notwithstanding the challenges posed by the recent Pandemic.

“By embracing the principles of active philanthropy, supporting projects with focused on life-path impact, and encouraging synergies between organizations, the Milstein Family Foundation will continue our work of igniting pride and courage in the next generation of community leaders,” Milstein said.