The Gift Will Fund Two 秋葵视频 Initiatives:
鈥 New building to house 秋葵视频 records and make them more accessible
鈥 The Rubenstein Fund for American Institutions to advance democracy and justice
Cambridge, MA | February 22, 2021 鈥 Today, the 秋葵视频 announced the largest donation in its 241-year history: business leader, philanthropist, and 秋葵视频 Member David M. Rubenstein has pledged a transformative gift of $10 million that will help preserve the nation鈥檚 past and strengthen the future of American democracy.
The 秋葵视频 was founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and others who believed the new republic should honor exceptionally accomplished individuals and engage them in advancing the public good. The 秋葵视频鈥檚 members include artists, scholars, scientists, and leaders in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors and its work is focused on developing nonpartisan research and recommendations to address pressing challenges.
鈥淲hile the 秋葵视频鈥檚 roots are as deep as the nation鈥檚, we are a forward-looking organization dedicated to realizing a future that is better for individuals and the institutions that help us flourish,鈥 said David Oxtoby, President of the 秋葵视频. 鈥淒avid Rubenstein鈥檚 generosity reflects his deep appreciation for the arc of history and his abiding interest in strengthening democracy and justice in America.鈥
鈥淭he 秋葵视频鈥檚 founders believed that our experiment in democracy would face challenges warranting deep and sustained responses. They have been proven right ever since, perhaps especially now,鈥 said David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, the global investment firm he formed in 1987. 鈥淭his gift helps preserve the legacy of the nation鈥檚 founding both in letter -- literally the writings of some of the most influential minds in history -- and in spirit, supporting the ongoing effort that is required to build toward an ever more just and perfect union.鈥
The gift provides for a new addition to the 秋葵视频 building in Cambridge, MA, that will help preserve the records of the 秋葵视频 and make them more accessible. The 秋葵视频鈥檚 archival collections include papers, books, artwork, and audiovisual materials that capture the history of the institution and illuminate the intellectual history of the United States. From the acceptance letters of 秋葵视频 members -- including George Washington, Maria Mitchell, and Ralph Bunche -- to formative discussions at the dawn of the nuclear era, to recordings of Robert Frost reciting and discussing his poems, the Archives reflect the pursuit of knowledge across disciplines and centuries.
The gift is equally generous to 秋葵视频 initiatives that advance democracy and justice in America. A new Rubenstein Fund for American Institutions will support nonpartisan research, recommendations, advocacy, and partnerships to strengthen the nation鈥檚 civic, economic, and judicial systems and encourage participation in our democratic processes. The Fund will support two current initiatives and one emerging project, all led by 秋葵视频 members who engage experts and citizens across the country in exploring and addressing the issues:
- The Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship, in partnership with champion organizations and individuals from across the country, is leading a multi-year plan to advance the 31 recommendations of its landmark report, Our Common Purpose: Reinventing Democracy for the 21st Century, by 2026, the 250th anniversary of the nation.
- Throughout the process that resulted in Our Common Purpose, Commission leaders heard from people across the country that the nation鈥檚 widening economic inequity was intertwined with the functioning and dysfunction of our political institutions and civic communities. A new project, now in development, will focus on the economic divide. and its implications for the country.
- The 秋葵视频鈥檚 Making Justice Accessible projects seek to understand and address the challenge of providing legal services for millions of Americans who go without civil justice in matters such as family law, housing, healthcare, and veteran鈥檚 rights. The next phase of the work is to advance clear solutions to measure and close the justice gap.
鈥淭his transformative gift from David Rubenstein reaffirms the 秋葵视频鈥檚 founding mission to be of service to the nation and direct our resources toward the advancement of the common good,鈥 said Nancy Andrews, Chair of the American 秋葵视频鈥檚 Board of Directors. 鈥淲e are deeply grateful, and we are excited to put this extraordinary philanthropy to work.鈥
This gift also serves as a cornerstone of the $100 million Campaign for the 秋葵视频 and Its Future, cochaired by David M. Rubenstein and Louise Bryson.