MICHELSON PHILANTHROPIES
A CONVERSATION With Alya and Gary K. Michelson Dr. Gary K. Michelson and Alya Michelson are the heart of Michelson Philanthropies. Their passions have fueled the initiatives of the foundation, which marked its 25th anniversary in 2020. The couple discussed their future plans with Michelson Philanthropies Executive Director Geoffrey L. Baum. Gary: I used to joke that it was David’s job to make the money so I could give it away, but it’s much more complicated than that. [David Cohen is CEO and chief investment officer of Karlin Asset Management, the private investment firm created by Dr. Michelson in 2005 after he reached a $1.35-billion patent acquisition settlement with Medtronic.] David conducts our business with the highest ethical standards. We have tried to do well while we’re doing good. How do you see our foundation differently than other philanthropic models out there? Gary: I can never give enough credit to Mike Milken. In 2005, when I reached the settlement with Medtronic, I had no idea how to be effectively philanthropic. People who know me have heard me say that life is not fair. And I have gotten way too much. At some point, you have to think about what you can do to make life a little bit less
In 2014, Dr. Gary K. Michelson and his wife, Alya, donated $50 million to the University of Southern California to create the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, bringing together exceptional scientists, researchers, and engineers from around the world to work collaboratively on solutions to today’s most pressing health issues. Located at Michelson Hall (which was dedicated on November 1, 2017), this 190,000-square-foot interdisciplinary research facility is a model for other research universities, bringing the world closer to the medical breakthroughs that are redefining the 21st century.
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2021 IMPACT REPORT
