# Sammy Ofer gives £20 million to National Maritime Museum

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/03/30/sammy-ofer-gives-20-million-national-maritime-museum/
- Published: 2008-03-30T17:25:27+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) has received a donation of £20 million from shipping
magnate and philanthropist Sammy Ofer. It claims that this is "the largest single
donation by an individual to a cultural project in the UK".

The donation will help fund the creation of a new wing at the heart of its Maritime
Greenwich World Heritage Site.

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Ofer served in the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean during World War II. The international
shipping group which he founded operates a significant part of its fleet from London
with over 90 vessels flying the Red Ensign.

![l-r: Lord Sterling, Sammy Ofer, Kevin Fewster](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/
u11/lord_sterling_sammy_ofer_kevin_fewster.jpg "l-r: ord Sterling, Sammy Ofer, Kevin
Fewster")

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Photo: (l-r) Lord Sterling (Chairman of the National Maritime Museum), Sammy Ofer
and Dr Kevin Fewster (NMM Director)**

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, commented on the major gift, saying: "This generous
donation by Mr Ofer will help to ensure that current and future generations understand
better the crucial role played by the sea in our history and the lives of those 
who depended upon it. I applaud this opportunity to promote engagement with our 
maritime past, present and future, which has only been made possible by this unique
gift to the nation."

www.nmm.ac.uk

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