Keith A. Myers, President/CEO of MorseLife Health System, announced a major private gift of $5 million from Miami and Palm Beach residents and philanthropists Stephen and Petra Levin.   Mr. Levin is former chairman of the Doral-based Gold Coast Beverage Distributors, and also serves as chairman for MorseLife Health System, and concurrently, chairman of the nonprofit’s capital campaign, The Campaign to Transform MorseLife.

This signature gift will establish the nonprofit’s new independent living residence, now under construction, as the Stephen and Petra Levin Tower in their honor.  Keith Myers noted that this major donation represents the fourth stage in the transformation of the MorseLife’s Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Seniors Campus which began in 2010 with the capital campaign.  With an original $10 million goal, under Mr. Levin’s leadership, the campaign has raised $37 million to date.

The Levin Tower, a 300,000 square foot luxury senior residence, will be built in two phases at a cost of $105 million.  It will offer 135 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments in the first phase of construction, with 47 apartments to be added in the second phase, all with full service resort-style services and amenities.  The groundbreaking was held this month with a grand opening scheduled for 2017.

Myers noted that thus far, the Campaign has resulted in the Sondra & David S. Mack Pavilion for Short-Term Rehabilitation, which opened in January 2014; the renovation of the Resnick Pavilion, its long-term care residence, completed in November 2014; and the opening of a Memory Care Residence in June, 2015.  The Levin Tower is the fourth phase of the campaign.

“When Stephen and Petra told us that they had pledged $5 million to the Campaign, we were inspired by their generosity,” said Myers.   “We were already impressed by Steve’s leadership and vision he has conveyed since becoming so critically involved in MorseLife in 2009 and this is another example of the unwavering commitment of the couple to the organization and our community’s seniors.”

The names of Stephen and Petra Levin are known by many charitable nonprofits throughout the country.  Notably, they are major benefactors for Stephen’s alma mater, University of Pennsylvania, with programs dedicated in his family names.  Stephen also serves on the board of the Palm Beach Police Foundation and is former chairman of the Quantum Foundation, the largest private charitable foundation in Palm Beach County.  Mrs. Levin, a noted philanthropist in her own right, served for many years as Chairman for the Caron Renaissance Gala, in support of the Caron Treatment Centers, and is on the Board of Directors of Mount Sinai Medical Center and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami.

Additionally, Stephen is on the board of trustees of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, and was presented with its National Community Service Award in 1999.  He is former vice chairman of the Palm Beach County Anti-Defamation League, former vice president of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and former board member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Palm Beach County. He has served on the Vanderbilt University Law School Advisory Board, was vice-chairman of the board of JFK Hospital and also served as president of Temple Emanu-El in Palm Beach. In 2011, Stephen was honored by the board of trustees of Northwood University with the Outstanding Business Leader award and serves as a member of the Outstanding Leaders Association Executive Committee.

“Petra and I share a solid commitment to ‘giving back’ to causes that fit with our passions and touch our hearts,” said Stephen Levin.  “In the case of MorseLife, our heartfelt passion is the care of this region’s aging adults – cherished individuals who deserve to live their later lives with dignity and quality.”

“Through its many services, MorseLife consistently goes to great lengths to provide exceptional care and service to seniors, and it is one organization that commits to filling underserved needs, such as independent living,” he said.  “So we are honored to be creating a legacy on behalf of seniors through the naming of the Levin Tower.”

For more information about MorseLife, its services and fund raising initiatives, call (561) 209-6103 or foundation@morselife.org.  For information about The Levin Tower, call (800) 498-6937.