Koret Foundation appoints U. C. president Richard C. Atkinson and Judge Abraham D. Sofaer to Board of Directors

San Francisco, CA, June 28, 2001 — The San Francisco-based Koret Foundation recently added two noteworthy members to its board of directors — U. C. president Richard C. Atkinson and Judge Abraham D. Sofaer, George P. Shultz distinguished
Scholar and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution.

According to the foundation’s president, Tad Taube, "During the last decade, the corpus of the foundation has more than doubled to $300 million, and the volume of grants we now distribute annually has grown almost threefold — to nearly $20 million. The addition of these two leaders to our board will help us fulfill the challenges associated with our mission, in part being ‘catalysts for positive change.’"

Koret, Taube noted, has over the years "become a major factor in the educational and cultural life of the San Francisco Bay Area, and in advancing the welfare of the Jewish community here and in Israel."

Atkinson is the 17th president of the University of California system’s nine
campuses, five medical centers, three U.S. Department of Energy laboratories, and a statewide Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Before heading the UC system in 1995, Atkinson, a long-term member of the faculty at Stanford University, served as chancellor of UC San Diego for 15 years, and director of the National Science Foundation.

"The Koret Foundation has been making an important difference in education, health, the arts, and public policy for a long time. I look forward to working with this outstanding organization as it improves lives and strengthens communities," he says.

Atkinson’s scientific contributions have resulted in election to the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Education, and the American Philosophical Society. The Kensington resident is past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, former chair of the Association of American Universities, and the recipient of numerous honorary degrees. A mountain in Antarctica has
been named in his honor.

Sofaer, who is the first to hold the title George P. Shultz distinguished Scholar and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution (since 1994), served as legal adviser to the US Department of State from 1985-1990.

"I have been impressed," adds the Palo Alto resident, "by the support Koret has provided to academic institutions, and to education, especially Jewish education. It will be a privilege to be part of continuing that advocacy.

"Another area in which I may be able to add something is in furthering the work of Koret in supporting economic development in Israel and the Middle East. I would like to see those programs expanded to include the Palestinian population — when improved circumstances permit, of course."

For many years, he has focused on separation of powers issues in the American system of government, including the power over war. He has also concentrated, and continues working on issues related to international law, terrorism, diplomacy, national security and water resources. Each spring he teaches a course on transnational law at the Stanford Law School. During his career, Sofaer has been a prosecutor, legal educator, judge, government official and attorney in private practice.

He has written on the Camp David summit, Jewish law and the Middle East peace process. As U. S. district judge for the Southern District of New York, he handled several high-profile cases, including the libel actions against Time magazine by then Israeli general and current prime minister, Ariel Sharon.

He holds an undergraduate degree in history from Yeshiva College and an L.L.B. from New York University School of Law. He also was awarded an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University.

The Koret Foundation is among the larger Jewish-sponsored charitable trusts
in California. Since its founding, Koret has awarded more than $200 million in grants to support community projects, educational institutions and organizations active in areas of public policy, arts and culture, and programs for disadvantaged youth and elderly citizens in the Bay Area. It supports organizations and initiatives that advance economic opportunity,
individual freedom and entrepreneurial values and provides the means for
organizations to educate people to help themselves. The Koret Foundation
helps to develop and enhance vibrant and thriving communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Israel. In its mission to support the local community, the Foundation has been a principal funder of the New San Francisco Main Library, The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, ACT, The Asian Arts Museum, the Fine Arts Museums as well as the San Francisco Opera, Ballet, Symphony and S. F. Zoo.