A Tradition That Spans Generations

From Steve and Ilene Berger

When we attended our first American Technion Society event, we had no idea how profoundly the experience would impact our lives. Meeting a brilliant Technion professor and three of her students, we were deeply impressed by their professional work and personal stories — stories of ambition, courage, and resilience.

The experience began a journey that has included many years of rewarding philanthropy and lay leadership. Among our proudest contributions is the Ilene & Steve Berger Technion Visiting Fellows program.

Each spring, the program brings some of the Technion’s most talented students to cities across the U.S., where these brilliant young people meet with donors to share their groundbreaking research and inspiring stories. Just as we were drawn to the Technion by a small group of extraordinary students, many of the donors the Fellows encounter — we hope — will follow the same path.

Watching this program flourish has brought us extraordinary fulfillment, and we want to ensure that it endures beyond our lifetimes. This is why we have chosen to include ATS in our estate plans, with a commitment to support the Fellows program through our family foundation.

Our future estate gift will ensure that Berger Fellows continue to inspire ATS supporters for years to come. Because the gift will flow through our family foundation, which our children will one day manage, the gift will ultimately empower our children and grandchildren to sustain the philanthropy we’ve begun, experiencing the same sense of fulfillment that has enriched our own lives.

We hope to make supporting the Technion a tradition that spans generations.