The gift from Ilene and Andy Cantos P’25 will strengthen Jewish Life on campus by providing valuable funding for internships, student scholarships, facilities and programs.
Ilene and Andy Cantos P’25 of Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, made their estate gift to support Elon Hillel in perpetuity because of the powerful impact the organization had on their daughter, Kylie Cantos ’25, who served as a peer mentor and executive board member with Hillel.
“Hillel provided Kylie with a warm, welcoming community where she felt a sense of belonging and identity,” Ilene Cantos said. “It was more than just a student organization—it became a home away from home for her.”
The couple’s gift is one of the largest made to Elon Hillel, a dynamic student-run and student-centered organization that engages approximately 800 Jewish students (undergraduate and graduate) on campus, along with non-Jewish students. Hillel hosts a variety of activities and services throughout the academic year, including bagel brunches, weekly Shabbat dinners, Hanukkah parties, movie nights, Israeli cooking classes and get out the vote projects, among other activities. The organization is located in the Sklut Hillel Center, which opened in 2013 and is named for Elon parents Lori and Eric Sklut P’14 of Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Cantos family was impressed by how deeply Hillel and Jewish Life staff invest in each student’s well-being and personal growth, including Hillel’s “SoupWorks” program that provides chicken soup and check-ins for students when they’re ill.
“There’s always someone looking out for the students, and that level of care really matters,” Ilene said. “We believe that every student deserves to have access to the same kind of supportive, inspiring and growth-focused community. That’s why we’re proud to support Elon and to be champions of its Jewish Life program.”
Betsy Polk Joseph, senior director of Jewish Life at Elon, thanked the Cantos family for their generosity and deep engagement with the university and Hillel.
“Throughout Kylie’s four years at Elon, Ilene and Andy Cantos led the way as volunteers, champions, philanthropists and advocates for Elon,” she said. “Their legacy gift demonstrates that their generous commitment is lifelong and will inspire donors now and far into the future.”
The couple served on Elon’s Jewish Life Advisory Council (JLAC), which gave them a front-row seat to the value of Jewish Life and Hillel to students’ academic, social and professional growth.
“Serving on JLAC and staying engaged with Elon has deepened our appreciation for the university’s commitment to cultivating a vibrant, inclusive environment,” Andy Cantos said. “Jewish life, and especially Hillel, is a key part of that. It doesn’t just enrich student life—it helps transform it.”
Organizations like Hillel make it easy for students to get involved and stay engaged throughout their entire Elon experience, Ilene said.
“Whether they’re leading a program, participating in a fellowship, working a paid internship or just showing up to a Shabbat dinner, they’re gaining confidence, skills and connections that will last long after graduation,” she said.
The Cantos family was also pleased with Kylie’s overall Elon experience, which allowed her to grow personally and professionally as a Change Maker Scholar in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, vice president of philanthropy with Alpha Chi Omega sorority and as an executive board member of the Pre-Health Society. Kylie earned her undergraduate degree in psychology.
“Kylie had access to incredible facilities and was constantly challenged academically while also being encouraged to get involved outside the classroom,” Ilene said. “Watching our daughter thrive at Elon has been a gift, and we’re proud to continue supporting this incredible community.”
“Elon is grateful to the Cantos family for generously supporting Hillel through their estate, which will help secure the future of this outstanding organization and make a meaningful impact on generations of students,” said John Gardner ’01, senior director of development.
Visit Elon’s planned giving website for more information on how you can make a difference with student learning through estate gifts.
About Elon Hillel
Hillel is open to all Jewish students from all backgrounds, identities and levels of observance, as well as to non-Jewish students. The organization seeks to build a welcoming, inclusive community that provides empowering Jewish experiences for students and embraces the diversity of Jewish traditions and identities.
The Sklut Hillel Center is a popular gathering place for students, whether they’re looking for a fridge full of food, a place to hang out or study, a way to meet other students, or somewhere to celebrate a Jewish holiday. Elon Jewish Life also advocates for the Jewish community on campus and prepares students for life beyond college through access to summer jobs and internships.