The Nevada Community Foundation in Las Vegas has announced a $70 million gift from local businessman Alfred E. Mann, who was among the initial signatories of the Giving Pledge in 2010.

The largest gift in the foundation's history will triple the size of its endowment, from $35 million to $105 million. "A gift of this significance has the ability to catalyze philanthropy within our community and beyond," said NCF president Gian F. Brosco. "We are honored that such a prominent member of our community has chosen to place his funds with the [foundation]."

Created in 1988 with a gift from Moe "Mr. Las Vegas" Dalitz, the foundation currently manages more than a hundred and fifty charitable funds. According to the Web site of the Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering, Mann intends to establish at least a dozen university-based institutes and will work with the community foundation in the coming months to strategize his priorities as they relate to his gift.

"Preserving and protecting our donors' philanthropic legacies is at the core of what we do here. It is our mission," said Brosco. "For a businessman and philanthropist of Al Mann's stature to invest in us is a huge endorsement of the community foundation, and we couldn't be more pleased."