For more than eight years, Zachary (Zach) Schwartz has had a significant impact as a leader, volunteer and donor within the Weizmann Canada community. First joining the Weizmann League (Weizmann Canada’s group of young professionals) as a volunteer in 2015, he would become the League’s Co-Chair in 2017 and continue on to join the National Board in 2020, which led to being recognized as the 2022 Volunteer of the Year. Now, with an eye on leaving a lasting impact, Zach has committed a gift to Weizmann in his will by supporting what he describes as “the best of Israel.”

Introduced to Weizmann by his friend Dr. Dan Andreae, a former member of Weizmann’s International Board and current Special Advisor to Weizmann Canada, Zach remembers being immediately struck by the philosophy at the Weizmann Institute. It was a unique environment of collaboration and curiosity that he was not familiar with previously. “What stood out was the idea of finding the best people, giving them extraordinary freedom and extraordinary resources,” he reflects. “The success of that formula had been well proven.”

Zach has seen Weizmann Canada grow with more people with a passion for science getting involved in the areas most important to them. “I think there are more and more opportunities for people to get involved in areas that interest them. I include myself in that group.”

Leaving a legacy through science 

Legacy was not something that Zach is focused on at this stage of his life, but philanthropy is important to him. “Philanthropy not only makes the world a better place directly, but by doing the things that we don’t have to do, but choose to do, it hopefully inspires others and can have a ripple effect,” he says. Though legacy was not his focus, he adds, “All I know is that I want Weizmann to be part of mine, whatever that legacy is.”

While Zach jokes that he has no plans of the gift coming any time soon, he stresses that he believes an investment in basic research is the responsible thing to do for humanity’s future, saying, “I want to leave the world in a better place. And Weizmann can really have a global impact in making people’s lives better. That’s been the history of Weizmann and I’m optimistic that’s the future of Weizmann.”

Learn more about how to leave a gift in your will and how to become an exclusive Vera and Chaim Weizmann Honor Society member.