Billionaire philanthropist Michael R. Bloomberg has announced a $44 million donation in support of Magen David Adom, Israel’s nonprofit emergency medical service, to match $44 million in contributions from nearly 34,000 others.

Bloomberg had pledged in October to donate to the organization, often referred to as the Israeli Red Cross, through an email appeal for the American Friends of Magen David Adom. The founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and former mayor of New York City initially did not disclose the amount of his donation, but committed to matching funds donated by others. In 11 days the American organization raised nearly $44 million, and the $88 million total is the largest commitment in its history. According to the New York Times, the funds will help buy ambulances, medical equipment, and ballistic vests and helmets for emergency workers.

“I don’t think we ever imagined the match would be something like this,” said American Friends of Magen David Adom CEO Catherine Reed. “This is quite a transformational gift.”

(Photo credit: Flickr/Gage Skidmore)