WhatsApp founder Jan Koum goes from food stamps to $200 million donation
WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum donated $200 million to Shaare Zedek Medical Center. This historic gift is the largest single donation to any Israeli hospital. Koum's journey began with government assistance and food stamps in America. He later co-founded WhatsApp, which Facebook acquired for $19 billion. The donation will fund the hospital's expansion and renaming.
WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum has made a significant donation of $200 million to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, marking the largest single gift to any hospital in Israel's history. The donation, made by the Koum Family Foundation, will be used for expanding the medical center, including the construction of a new 24-story building with surgical and emergency care facilities.
Koum, who came to the United States from Ukraine at age 16, relied on government assistance, including food stamps, during his early years. The donation comes decades after Koum and his mother faced financial struggles, starting from an immigrant teenager to co-founding a company acquired by Facebook for $19 billion. Koum stated that the gift reflects confidence in medical innovation and research benefiting patients worldwide.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
