Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg Donates $44 Million to Magen David Adom Following Hamas Attack

former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced a substantial donation of nearly $44 million to Magen David Adom (MDA) following the recent Hamas attack. Bloomberg, whose estimated fortune stands at $96 billion, has pledged to match donations collected in response to an appeal from the American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) organization. This brings the total donations to a staggering $88 million, marking the highest amount ever raised by the American organization.

The CEO of AFMDA, Catherine Reid, expressed her gratitude and emphasized the essential use of the funds, stating that the money will be used to purchase ambulances, medical equipment, cream vests, and helmets for emergency teams. Last week, the organization sent 17 new ambulances to Israel, with plans to dispatch more in the coming days.

Michael Bloomberg has been a long-time supporter of the organization, and his previous contributions have been instrumental in financing the opening of an MDA station in Jerusalem, named in memory of his late father, William Bloomberg.

The outpouring of donations to Magen David Adom was initiated at the request of Marc LaBeau, the chairman of AFMDA, shortly after the Hamas attack. Bloomberg agreed to match the donations, but it was surprising to many close to him that the response far exceeded expectations. In just 11 days after the appeal, nearly 34,000 donors from various countries, contributing varying amounts, made this generous contribution possible.

"I don't think we even imagined that we would reach these amounts," admitted Catherine Reid, the CEO of AFMDA. "This is a transformative gift."

This significant donation underscores the global community's commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts in times of crisis and the importance of organizations like Magen David Adom in providing vital assistance during emergencies.