Cardozo School of Law is pleased to announce, with gratitude, that Ira Dizengoff ’92 and Betsy W. Dizengoff have established a new endowment to expand the Public Service Summer Stipend Program at the law school, through the formation of the Dizengoff Family Summer Public Interest Fund. The fund will help students gain the legal experience they need to become successful lawyers in the public service law sector.

Ira is a graduate of the class of 1992, a Trustee of Yeshiva University and Chair of the Cardozo Board of Overseers. Betsy and Ira are parents of Reuben E. Dizengoff, Cardozo Class of 2018 and Sophie A. Dizengoff, Class of 2023.

This first award(s) from this endowment, starting in the summer of 2021, will enable Cardozo to continue its commitment to preparing students to become passionate advocates, dedicated to improving our legal system and the lives of the people they serve. In addition, these stipends allow students to enhance the sorely needed assistance required by legal service organizations, which will enable them to directly benefit the vulnerable communities they serve.

“Our goal is to provide every opportunity for Cardozo students to help their clients meet critical needs, support key functions at all levels of government and to help shape public policy that will create a more just society,” said Ira Dizengoff. “The Dizengoff Family is heartened that we are able to provide these often life-changing opportunities for Cardozo students and the communities they serve.”

Dean Melanie Leslie said, “Providing opportunities for students to pursue careers in the public interest is a core value at Cardozo. This new endowment will help us to provide assistance to even more Cardozo students. We are grateful to the Dizengoff family for their generosity and for Ira’s continued leadership as Chair of our Board of Overseers.”