Valley couple donates $100,000 to Cleveland magnet program

Cleveland Humanities Magnet High School in Reseda has received a $100,000 donation from Hagai and Jill Gefen, who credit the school for instilling a passion for learning in their three sons.

Inspired by the magnet’s commitment to innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to education, the Gefens hope their gift will provide additional resources to ensure the program’s continuity and prosperity amid staggering deficits within the Los Angeles Unified School District.

According to Bonnie Goodman, president of the Cleveland Magnet Parents Association, the money will foster the magnet’s commitment to “enhancing humanities curricula by furthering partnerships with social and educational institutions such as UCLA and Cal State Northridge.” The funds will facilitate greater research opportunities among students and teachers, according to Goodman.

The Gefens’ donation will also be used for the renovation of the magnet’s E hall, to create a welcoming gathering space for students. The Gefens plan to transform E hall — currently a crowded and uncomfortable space — into a more appealing and open outdoor setting by purchasing new benches and tables. A large-format printer will also be purchased, allowing students to print posters and participate in various art projects.

This is the first major donation for the Gefens. Hagai immigrated, with little money, from a kibbutz in Israel to attend college in the United States, and eventually formed his own hardware and audiovisual company, Gefen Inc. Jill heads the firm’s art and advertising/marketing departments.

The Gefens, whose three sons had their bar mitzvahs at Temple Kol Tikvah, were also motivated to donate to the magnet to express their values of tikkun olam and social activism.

Jill hopes the donation will “motivate people, especially parents, to continue to move the program forward through active involvement.” She adds, “Everyone can do something. Even in tough times, we have to step up. That’s when it counts.”