To the Editor:

In your otherwise fine article, "New York Taps Into Israeli Institute's Expertise" (The Chronicle, January 8) we are compelled to point out a misrepresentation of the relationship between the New York-based American Technion Society and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

The article states that "the Technion established a fund-raising office in New York City several years ago." In actuality, the New York-based American Technion Society was founded in 1940 as an independent organization dedicated to raising support for the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. With offices across the nation, the American Technion Society provides critical support to the Technion through a national network of thousands of dedicated members from coast to coast. The organization has raised more than $1.6-billion since its founding for the Technion, making it one of the fastest-growing fund-raising organizations in the United States. The American Technion Society has also appeared on the "Philanthropy 400"—The Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual list of the nation's 400 leading fund-raising organizations—for more than 10 years.

Tova Kantrowitz
Director of Communications
American Technion Society
New York