Canadian Israeli philanthropist Sylvan Adams has been named to the first-ever TIME100 Philanthropy List, recognizing 100 individuals shaping the future of global giving. The list, featured in Time magazine’s June 9, 2025 issue, celebrates leaders whose charitable work is transforming society. Adams was acknowledged for his long-standing support of projects in Israel and beyond, with a particular focus on healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid.
Adams, a former real estate developer and current president of the World Jewish Congress Israel Region, was recognized for a landmark $100 million donation to Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Announced after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the gift aims to revitalize the southern region’s economy. “To bring back our people … they need economic opportunity,” Adams said at the time.
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Over the past decade, Adams has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to initiatives ranging from emergency wards in Tel Aviv to children’s hospitals in Holon. His philanthropy includes support for Save a Child’s Heart, which provides surgeries to children from developing countries, including Gaza. He also built the region’s first Olympic-standard velodrome and funded athletic research institutes in Israel and Canada.
As the only Israeli signatory to the Giving Pledge, Adams has committed the majority of his wealth to charity. He said of the Time honor: “Philanthropy is not just about giving—it’s about building bridges between communities, cultures, and countries.”
In 2023, Adams lit a torch at Israel’s 75th Independence Day ceremony. Earlier this year, he was appointed to head the World Jewish Congress’s Israel Region chapter.