Milwaukee real estate developer Joseph Zilber has announced a $50 million gift to area nonprofits, including $30 million to Marquette University, as part of a new initiative he calls New Potential for Milwaukee.

The gifts include $5 million toward construction of a new building for Marquette's law school — where the four-story atrium will be called the Zilber Forum — $25 million for scholarships, and $20 million to Milwaukee area organizations to be announced soon. The funding for scholarships expands an existing Zilber program, which has provided financial aid for hundreds of law students at Marquette since 1984. "The building is important, but access to a Marquette education changes lives, not only for the students themselves, but for their children and their children's children," Zilber said. "I want today's law students who have financial need to enjoy the same opportunity I had."

Zilber, who will soon celebrate his ninetieth birthday, outlined his initiative's goals, which include developing more and better jobs, improving the quality of education, and striving for government that develops efficient, bipartisan public policy. "It is time to rebuild Milwaukee," he said. "In the time I have left, with all the energy and resources that I possess, I will do what I can."

Marquette president Fr. Robert A. Wild called Zilber a passionate advocate for the community. "His developments fuel economic growth, and his philanthropy has supported educational, religious and health care advances," he said. "He is a wonderful example of what we strive to instill in Marquette graduates: leadership through service to others."