Continuing a Legacy of Support
The Zilber Family Foundation has presented the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health with a $20 million gift to support faculty excellence and student achievement.
The largest single gift in the history of UWM and one of the largest gifts given to a school of public health across the country, the $20 million commitment will continue to promote health, prevent disease, and advance health equity across the city and state for years to come.
Continuing Joe and Vera Zilber's legacy of support for public health, the funding will support two endowments: the Zilber Faculty Excellence Fund and the Vera Zilber Student Program Fund, investing in the people that make the Zilber College of Public Health a transformative force in Milwaukee.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health is Wisconsin's only accredited school of public health. One of only 56 dedicated schools in the country, the College is a leading institution in advancing population health, health equity, and social and environmental justice throughout Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin, and beyond.
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Media Coverage
“Multi million dollar gifts received by Tulane, Florida Atlantic, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee” Forbes.com–7/14/23
“Zilber Family Foundation grants $20 million to UWM’s Zilber College of Public Health” ShepherdExpress.com–7/14/23
“Record-breaking $20 million donation will transform UW-Milwaukee’s College of Public Health” JSOnline.com-7/12/23
“UWM gets largest donation in its history” UrbanMilwaukee.com-7/12/23
“Zilber Foundation giving $20 million to UWM College of Public Health” BizTimes.com-7/12/23
“Zilber Foundation presents largest gift ever to UWM targeting public health” Milwaukee Business Journal-7/12/23
Partnership History and Background
The Zilber Family Foundation's $20 million investment in the College of Public Health marks a new phase in a longstanding partnership built on a shared belief in health equity. In 2007, the Foundation's founder, Joseph J. Zilber, announced a $10 million grant from the Foundation to support the development of the UW-Milwaukee Graduate College of Public Health and the opportunity to educate a new generation of health care workers and changemakers.
Since then, the Zilber College of Public Health has become a thriving asset to the UW education system, the Brewery District, and the Milwaukee community. The development of the Zilber College in Milwaukee's Brewery District, a once blighted neighborhood, has catalyzed $300 million of investment in the LEED Platinum designated neighborhood. The College of Public Health functions as an engine for education, engagement, and connection.