Syracuse Alumni, Father and Sons, Donate $100,000 to the Burton Blatt Institute

Gift to BBI from Michael ’63, Mark ’11, and Jonathan Tannenhauser

Syracuse University alumni Michael Tannenhauser ’63 and his son Mark Tannenhauser ’11, and son Jonathan Tannenhauser (Harvard ’94), have made a commitment of $100,000 to support the work of the Burton Blatt Institute at SU.

The gift is being made in honor of Mae and Max Tannenhauser, Michael’s parents and the grandparents of Mark and Jonathan.

“This generous gift will help to ensure that BBI continues to support the independence of people with disabilities on and off the SU campus,” says University Professor Peter Blanck, BBI chairman. “The Tannenhausers’ cross-generational commitment to BBI and Syracuse University is exemplary, and their gift will have an immediate impact.”

The Tannenhausers’ contribution will advance BBI’s central mission in disability research, education and outreach. “BBI is a world premier institute at Syracuse with tremendous impact on campus and across the world,” says Michael Tannenhauser, who serves on BBI’s Board of Advisors.

“Our gift reflects our passion for SU, as father and sons, and for the work of BBI,” says Mark Tannenhauser. “As a recent graduate, I can’t think of a better reflection of SU’s mission than BBI.”

Launched in 2005, BBI is named in honor of Burton Blatt, former dean of SU’s School of Education and a pioneering disability rights scholar, to better the lives of people with disabilities. BBI engages in projects across the globe on law, civil and human rights, inclusive technology, employment, and economic empowerment. To date, BBI has generated $48 million for Syracuse University from sponsored projects and gifts for educational, research and outreach activities. BBI has offices in Syracuse, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.

Michael Tannenhauser is chief executive officer of North Shore Plumbing Supply Co., a leading plumbing supplier located in New York City. The company was started by Michael’s parents. Mark Tannenhauser is working alongside his father at the company. Michael and Mark earned B.A.s from Syracuse University. Jonathan Tannenhauser, who earned an A.B. at Harvard University and a Ph.D at University of California (Berkeley), teaches mathematics at Wellesley College.