DEARBORN — The Arab American National Museum received the largest gift in its history.
Russell J. Ebeid, a southeast Michigan businessman and philanthropist, announced at ACCESS’ 43rd annual dinner April 12, which is the museum’s parent organization, that he is making a $2 million legacy gift to the museum.
“I have decided to make his endowment because I believe in our community,” Ebeid said at the dinner, according to a news release. “I believe in supporting our institutions and creating a loud and proud historical heritage for our children, grandchildren and the public for generations to come. I trust that this legacy contribution in my will can promote and enhance the museum’s prestige, as well as honor our admirable predecessors.”
The size of the gift is unprecedented.
“This is a tipping point in the way we engage our individual donors,” says ACCESS Deputy Executive Director and CFO Maha Freij. “This contribution is five times larger than any other individual gift we’ve ever received.”
Ebeid has included the gift in his will, and the money will go toward the museum’s Arab American Community Archive. The archive showcases the hard work and contributions of Arab Americans, while ensuring that the Arab American immigrant experience is an integral part of U.S. history. The collection, which focuses the three themes of Immigration, Entrepreneurial Spirit and Rites of Passage, includes digital and physical assets like oral histories, photographs, artifacts, printed materials and more.
“Along with the important work of collecting and preserving these narratives from across the country, the Museum is also committed to sharing them with a broader audience. In this way, the collection impacts the general public who benefit from learning more about the national Arab American community and its history, and it allows the AANM to chip away at the prevailing misconceptions and myths about Arabs and Arab Americans,” the AANM said in an email to the Press & Guide.
Ebeid is a longstanding supporter and member of the National Advisory Board of the Arab American National Museum and the Center for Arab American Philanthropy CAAP, another national initiative of ACCESS. Through his scholarship program housed at CAAP, he supports the educational endeavors of students of color at Kettering University in Flint and exemplifies the Center’s mission of strategic giving in the Arab American community.
Ebeid has long history of recognition
Ebeid, a Lebanese American, grew up in southwest Detroit. He received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1962 from Kettering University (known then as General Motors Institute), a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering in 1968 from Detroit’s Wayne State University, and has received two honorary doctoral degrees in Management and Public Service. He was named the National Arab American Business Man of the Year in 2003 and entered the Halls of Fame at Wayne State University and the National Commission for Cooperative Education. In 2010, he was recognized as the Trader of the Year for his work in promoting international trade. Recently, he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
ACCESS awarded Ebeid the “Making an Impact” award in 2008 In recognition of his philanthropic contributions to the Ebeid Hospice Residence, Ebeid Student Center, Ebeid Educational Hall, and Ebeid Athletic Center at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, and the Ebeid Family Scholarship Fund for disadvantaged Arab American students to attend his alma mater, Kettering University. To honor his parents, he provides scholarships to Lebanese students in their ancestral home. He was also the lead sponsor of an Emmy-winning documentary titled Our Arab American Story and the co-producer of a medical film titled Ageing of Men.
When he retired in 2011, completing a tenure of more than 40 years, Ebeid was board chairman emeritus at Guardian Industries Corp. in Auburn Hills and president of its Glass Group. He was responsible for the company’s worldwide sales, marketing, and manufacturing activities that are performed by over 19,000 people employed in 24 countries on five continents. Prior to joining Guardian in 1970, Ebeid was employed at General Motors.
Ebeid is the current owner of the Fairlane Club in Dearborn. He currently serves as a trustee for ProMedica Health Systems and Lourdes University. He has served as a director of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan – an educational curriculum designed to teach and promote free market principles to the former socialist and emerging economies of third-world countries of the world.
Source: Press & Guide