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Florida Atlantic University receives record $20 million donation to study Holocaust

Donor's family fled Nazi Germany, later settling in the US
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BOCA RATON, Fla. — Florida Atlantic University has received the largest gift in its history, a $20 million donation that will be used to found an institute for Jewish and Holocaust studies.

The Boca Raton school announced the gift from Kurt and Marilyn Wallach on Tuesday. The institute will be named after them.

Kurt and Marilyn Wallach, Holocaust research donors to FAU
Kurt and Marilyn Wallach donated $20 million to Florida Atlantic University to create the Institute for Holocaust and Jewish Studies, which will be named in their honor.

Kurt Wallach's immediate family fled Nazi Germany when he was a child, eventually arriving in the United States.

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Wallach founded several businesses.

The 94-year-old entrepreneur said he made the donation to honor and remember all who perished in the Holocaust, including members of his family.