New York—The Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush (LAS) has purchased a new facility at 2002 Avenue J to accommodate the changing needs of its growing student body. A hub of Jewish life in Brooklyn, LAS has been a vibrant and important part of the Orthodox community, contributing to the fabric of its life and educating generations for professional studies and careers. Irving Montak, who resides in Brooklyn, contributed a major gift to name the annex the Irving Montak Building. His gift will facilitate the modernization of the annex building for academic purposes.
“Mr. Montak’s generous gift will ensure that students in the Flatbush community interested in attending LAS will receive an outstanding college education in a modern setting equipped with cutting-edge technology,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, president and CEO of the Touro College and University System. “We are grateful for his vision and extraordinary generosity.”
Mr. Montak, a native of Poland, came to the United States as a young boy and was fortunate to escape the atrocities of the Holocaust. He served in the United States army during the Korean War and spent most of his career at Coca Cola. Although he did not have the opportunity to attend college, he is committed to supporting education and giving young Jewish men and women the opportunity to succeed in their chosen careers while adhering to Jewish values.
“I am proud and gratified to be able to contribute to the growth of Touro College and to do so while I can witness the outcome,” said Montak. “Being able to make a difference in the lives of so many gifted young men and women is especially meaningful to me and enables me to pay special tribute to my dear mother, who felt deeply about giving young women educational opportunities.”
Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, executive dean of LAS and Touro’s vice president for planning and assessment, said, “The development of this annex building, in close proximity to our main campus in Flatbush, will enable LAS to better serve the educational needs and professional aspirations of the growing Jewish community in the metropolitan area. Through his generosity, Mr. Montak will touch the lives of countless generations of students.”
This expansion will enable LAS to create a new state-of-the-art science laboratory in the main building to accommodate growing interest of the student body in the health sciences. In addition, it will provide funds to build modern classrooms and faculty offices in the annex. Renovations are expected to be completed by December 2014 and a special dedication ceremony and celebration will be held to recognize Mr. Montak’s generosity.
The Lander College in Flatbush, with separate schools for men and women, enrolls 2,500 students annually in fall, spring, and summer semesters. It offers a choice of 25 majors and pre-professional programs in disciplines including accounting (CPA program), finance, management, computer science and multimedia web design, pre-medicine/pre-dentistry/pre-pharmacy, the allied health sciences (occupational and physical therapy, physician assistant, nursing), education, psychology, biology, political science/prelaw, mathematics/actuarial studies, and speech language pathology.
Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 19,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, Paris, and Florida. New York Medical College, Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well as Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/media/.
