October 16, 2009. CCNMTL mourns the passing of Lionel I. Pincus, chairman emeritus of the Trustees of Columbia University and CCNMTL benefactor. Mr. Pincus' $10 million gift made possible the launching of the Center in 1999 as noted in a Columbia University Record article published on March 29, 1999.

A few years later, Mr. Pincus was able to see the results of his gift when he visited the Center in October 2004. He was given a demonstration of the services and projects that had been developed through his generosity.