Sylvan Adams
Sylvan Adams | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1, 1958 Quebec City, Canada |
| Nationality | Israeli, Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Cyclist |
| Known for | Leading Iberville Developments; philanthropy in sports and education; co-owner of Israel Cycling Academy; winner of 2017 World Masters Cycling Championship |
Sylvan Adams (; born November 1, 1958) is a billionaire entrepreneur with dual Israeli and Canadian nationality.
Background and career
Originating from Quebec City, Canada, Adams spent nearly a quarter-century leading Iberville Developments, a prominent Canadian real estate company established by his father, Marcel. In late 2015, he made Aliyah to Israel, choosing to reside in Tel Aviv.
Philanthropy
Through the Margaret and Sylvan Adams Family Foundation, Adams supports a wide array of sports and educational programs in both Israel and Canada. The foundation awards doctoral fellowships at the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Established with his backing in 2013, the "Bonei Zion Prize" honors English-speaking immigrants to Israel who have made outstanding contributions across sectors such as science, medicine, education, business, technology, culture, arts, and athletics. Awardees receive $10,000 each.
In 2018, Adams contributed $5 million to SpaceIL to facilitate Israel’s first lunar spacecraft landing. The following year, he is reported to have financed Madonna’s appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.
Also in 2019, he donated 100 million NIS toward the construction of a new emergency department at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Medical Center and supported the development of a pediatric hospital at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.
Adams was honored in 2023 by being selected to light a torch during the Mount Herzl ceremony commemorating Israel’s 75th anniversary.
In 2024, he pledged $100 million to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev aimed at aiding the reconstruction of communities in southern Israel following the October 7th Hamas-led assault.
Cycling
Adams discovered a passion for cycling in his forties and went on to claim victory at the 2017 World Masters Championship, along with several world time-trial titles. He is a co-owner of the Israel Cycling Academy (ICA), which was launched in 2015 as a UCI Pro Continental team. The squad progressed to the UCI World Tour level in 2020 but was demoted after the 2022 season; it currently competes under the name Israel–Premier Tech. In 2017, Adams founded the Sylvan Adams Cycling Network at Tel Aviv University, establishing Israel’s inaugural sports excellence center. He also financed the Sylvan Adams Commuter Path to improve cycling infrastructure throughout Tel Aviv.
In May 2018, Adams inaugurated the first indoor velodrome facility in Israel and the Middle East. Additionally, he contributed $2 million towards renovating the Bromont Velodrome located in Quebec. A significant highlight was his proposal and funding of the 2018 Giro d'Italia opening stages in Israel with an investment of 80 million NIS—this marked the Giro’s debut outside European territory. For this effort, he was awarded Honorary Presidency of the 2018 Giro d'Italia.
Family
His father, Marcel Adams, is a Canadian real estate investor and philanthropist who survived the Holocaust.