It was almost a century ago that the Mandel brothers scurried around a boat headed for America, filling their pillow cases with meager victuals such as herring and bread. Coming from Poland in the early 1900s, the brothers were familiar with hunger. They definitely don't have to worry about hunger today. After becoming successful, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel are major philanthropists, responsible for some of the largest and most influential programs and institutions throughout America. The Mandel family's name decorates buildings across the world, from Jerusalem to at Brandeis University.

The Mandel brothers, of Cleveland, established the Mandel Foundation in 1953, which aims to provide leadership for the nonprofit world. According to an e-mail to the Justice from Morton Mandel, the basic philosophy of the foundation "is to invest in people with the vision, values and passion to change the world."

The Mandel Foundation focuses its support and resources on five specific areas: leadership, management, higher education, Jewish education and continuity and urban neighborhood renewal.

The Mandel brothers began their careers when they established the Premier Automotive Supply Company in the 1940s after buying their uncle's storefront for $900. While their business initially distributed standard automotive parts, they soon learned that their customers were looking for specialized, hard-to-find products. After altering their business, revenue grew to the millions, and the company became one of the largest United States distributors of auto parts. When the Mandel brothers realized they had more money than they needed, they started the foundation.

"We didn't make money for the sake of money. We made money so we could redistribute it," Jack Mandel says in The Mandel Legacy: "Our Cup Runneth Over," a 20-- minute documentary about the Mandel brothers and their success.

The brothers have since committed their success to various philanthropic projects, including higher education at various universities.

"The Mandel Foundation is a strong supporter of Brandeis University. Mrs. Barbara Mandel is a very involved trustee, and my daughter, Amy, is a graduate," Morton Mandel wrote.

The new Mandel Center for the Humanities, which was ready in time for classes this semester, was funded by a generous $22.5 million gift from the Mandel Foundation. The Mandels, according to University Presiden Jehuda Reinharz, were interested in making a transformative gift to the University.

"Our vision was to create a physical structure that has beauty, elegance and is a great space for learning," Morton Mandel wrote.

The Mandel Center for the Humanities was chosen as an appropriate gift based on both the University's needs and the strong beliefs of the Mandel Foundation. The humanities faculty had been asking for a center for the humanities for many years- President Reinharz kept this in mind during his conversations with the Mandels.

After a group of faculty put together a proposal for an interdisciplinary center for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the Mandels agreed to fund it.

"We chose to invest in the Mandel Center for the Humanities and the Mandel Quadrangle because we care deeply about students being familiar with great ideas and the liberal arts tradition. We believe it is important for all students to have a strong foundation in the humanities so they can function more effectively to help build a more just and a more decent society," Morton Mandel wrote.

The Mandels, who were extremely involved in the project, worked to ensure that the Mandel Center would satisfy the needs of both the faculty and students.

"They believe deeply in the mission of the new center and were very committed to making the building as successful as possible," Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

Morton Mandel even took interest in the specific architecture of the building and details including the carpets, tiles, paint colors and furniture.

"I can also tell you that [Mandel] has exquisite taste and we reviewed all of the proposed building materials with him directly," wrote Vice President for Planning and Institutional Research Daniel Feldman. According to Morton Mandel, the couple visited the center many times during construction.

"Above all, though, Mr. Mandel did repeatedly ask whether we had discussed this or that particular detail with the faculty. He wanted to make certain that people had what they needed in the Mandel Center for the Humanities, to make it a great place to work, study, teach, learn and participate in the many kinds of events that the Center is designed to support," Feldman continued.

The Mandel brothers chose to honor their parents with a plaque on the outside wall of the Mandel Center, facing the terrace outside the forum. According to the Mandel brothers, their parents, Rose and Simon Mandel, influenced them and instilled them with their philanthropic values.

The dedication ceremony for the Mandel Center for the Humanities will take place on Oct 26, and the Mandels plan to attend.

The Mandel Center for the Humanities is one among many gifts the Mandels have given the University over the years. In 2002, the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education was established to transform the quality of teaching and learning in Jewish education. The Mandels are also responsible for the Mandel Chair in Jewish Education and fellowships in the humanities and English and American Literature.

Reinharz, who has worked closely with the Mandels during their involvement with the University, will become president of the Mandel Foundation when he leaves Brandeis this coming year. Reinharz has sat on the board of the Mandel Foundation since 2005.

"As the world changes, our programs will have to change. As we understand problems more clearly, our solutions may change. But the hope is that the need for enlightened, informed, passionate leadership, is a theme that won't go away," Morton Mandel says in The Mandel Legacy: "Our Cup Runneth Over.