Billion-dollar visionary effort from Michael Milken and family sparks a bold new center to redefine the Advancement of the American Dream through education, health, and entrepreneurship
With an extraordinary personal financial commitment of several hundred million invested to date—joined by the most significant philanthropic contributors of its kind—Lori and Michael Milken and family have set in motion the creation of a landmark institution of lasting national importance, envisioned to be both transformative in scope and historic in impact, in the heart of the nation’s capital.
The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream is not only a tribute to unprecedented donor generosity on a historic scale—it is a visionary endeavor destined to become an iconic landmark of purpose, progress, and meaningful, long-lasting public engagement.
The Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream is driven by a mission to make the American Dream accessible and achievable for people from all walks of life. Its work is grounded in four central focus areas that reflect the essential building blocks of opportunity and upward mobility:
Health and Medical Research:
The Center promotes innovations in healthcare and supports medical research that improves the quality of life, increases longevity, and enables individuals to live healthy, productive lives. It emphasizes the connection between public health and economic prosperity, advocating for solutions that make healthcare more accessible and equitable.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation:
By championing the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels the American Dream, the Center fosters environments where creativity and risk-taking can flourish. It supports initiatives that nurture startups, drive technological breakthroughs, and equip individuals with the tools needed to transform ideas into sustainable ventures.
Education and the Educator:
Education is viewed as a cornerstone of opportunity. The center works to elevate the role of educators, improve learning outcomes, and expand access to quality education at all levels of education. Its programs aim to empower students and teachers alike, recognizing education as a lifelong pathway to personal and professional success.
Access to Capital and Financial Empowerment:
Economic mobility depends on the ability to access financial resources and make informed financial decisions. The Center promotes inclusive financial systems, supports initiatives that expand access to capital for underserved communities, and advances financial literacy to empower individuals to build and sustain wealth.
Together, these focus areas reflect the Center’s commitment to advancing a more inclusive and dynamic version of the American Dream—one where individuals have the opportunity to thrive regardless of their background or circumstances.
Situated directly across from the White House and the U.S. Treasury, the Center occupies a trio of historically significant buildings, including the National Register–listed American Security & Trust Company and the legendary Riggs National Bank—long known as the “Bank of Presidents.”
These architectural gems, now masterfully restored, are seamlessly connected by a newly constructed glass atrium that unites the past with the future.
An adjacent third building houses a state-of-the-art office and conference space to support the Center’s expansive mission.
MCAAD breathes new life into these storied spaces, reimagining them as a vibrant nexus where timeless architecture meets forward-looking storytelling.
Through immersive exhibitions, cutting-edge interactive experiences, and dynamic programming, the Center boldly explores what the American Dream means in the modern era—and how it can be expanded and made real for all.
Inside, visitors will encounter a compelling array of features: a world-class auditorium for public dialogue and performance, an elegant banquet hall for convenings and celebrations, and the groundbreaking “Hall of Dreams,” which brings the pillars of the American Dream to life through digital visualizations, multimedia art, personal stories, and interactive installations.
Anchored in themes of education, health, financial empowerment, and entrepreneurship, the center seeks to illuminate the pathways that lead to opportunity and upward mobility.
Brought to life through bold philanthropic vision and powered by the Milken family’s exceptional leadership and steadfast dedication to the public good—alongside the support of a distinguished community of committed philanthropic partners—the Center’s creation stands as a masterful blend of historic preservation and forward-looking innovation.
Beyond restoring treasured national landmarks, it establishes a cutting-edge technological infrastructure to support research, convenings, digital outreach, and collaborative problem-solving at scale.
Poised to open to the general public shortly, the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream will stand as a beacon of inspiration and a catalyst for meaningful change.
Designed as both a cultural destination and an extraordinary civic engine, the Center will serve as a museum, a dynamic learning platform, and a convening hub for the brightest minds and most committed changemakers of our time.
Through a wide-ranging suite of programs—from hands-on skills training and virtual education to thought-provoking policy dialogue and live events—the Center aims to spark inclusive, innovative, and enduring pathways to prosperity.
By empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and igniting a renewed sense of possibility, MCAAD proudly reaffirms and reimagines the promise of the American Dream for the 21st century and beyond.
Lifestyles Magazine/Meaningful Influence participated in a three-day, invitation-only pre-opening program focusing on the 4th of July celebrations, which hosted prominent individuals whose significant gifts helped create this truly extraordinary and unique landmark institution.