First Genesis Prize for Mayor Bloomberg
Today, the Genesis Prize Foundation announced New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg as the recipient of the first ever Genesis Prize.
It will be presented to him by the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, at a special ceremony in Jerusalem in May.
The announcement was made by the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) Yuli Edelstein, who serves as the Chairman of the Prize Committee, which selected the laureate.
The Genesis Prize was established to recognize exceptional human beings who, through their outstanding achievement, come to represent a fundamental value of the Jewish people – a commitment to the betterment of mankind.
The Prize is administered by a partnership that includes the Office of the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, the Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG), and the Office of the Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI).
JAFI’s Chairman Natan Sharansky, who led the struggle for human rights in the Soviet Union in the 1970’s, serves as the Chairman of the Selection Committee.
“I am deeply honored to be the first recipient of the Genesis Prize,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Mayor Bloomberg will donate the $1 million prize to a philanthropic cause, which will be announced in early 2014.
