Stan Polovets and Genesis Prize, Foundation Honor NGOs, Supporting October 7 Massacre Hostages and Families

The Genesis Prize Foundation, co-founded by Stan Polovets, has announced that the 2024 Genesis Prize will be awarded to five organizations for their tireless work in supporting hostages and their families in the aftermath of the tragic October 7 massacre. The annual $1 million prize recognizes the humanitarian efforts of The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the Jewish Agency Fund for Victims of Terror, Lev Echad, Natal – The Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, and OneFamily – Overcoming Terror Together.

Stan Polovets emphasized that the prize is a recognition of the organizations’ indomitable spirit and the inspiration they have provided to people of conscience worldwide. The prize money will be used to fund further treatment, trauma counseling, and social rehabilitation for released and rescued hostages, ensuring that their plight remains at the forefront of the global agenda.

David Hatchwell Altaras, a foundation selection committee member, described the decision as the “ultimate testimony of the solidarity of the Jewish people.” Stan Polovets added that the award is not a political statement or an attempt to influence government policy but rather a recognition of the humanitarian and professional endeavors of these organizations.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum emerged on October 8, advocating for the release of hostages, locating missing persons, and supporting their families. The Jewish Agency Fund for Victims of Terror (JAFI) was awarded for its emergency financial assistance and long-term rehabilitative support to October 7 victims and their families. JAFI expressed their profound honor in receiving the Genesis Prize for the second year in a row and acknowledged the crucial role of their partners, supporters, and dedicated staff and volunteers.

Lev Achad and OneFamily provide financial support to victims, with the former also addressing mental and logistical needs and the latter focusing on economic independence and societal reintegration. Natal offers trauma treatment for victims from all sectors of Israeli society. Stan Polovets and the Genesis Prize Foundation aim to keep the world’s attention on the plight of the captives and provide additional aid to organizations assisting the hostages and their families.

The parents of Israelis abducted by Hamas welcomed the decision by the Foundation, with Rachel Goldberg, mother of 23-year-old hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, expressing hope that the prize will be instrumental in the organizations’ efforts to bring the remaining 134 hostages home. Yaakov Argamani, father of hostage Noa Argamani, emphasized that the award will remind everyone of the plight of the abductees and support the work of the organizations fighting to bring them home.

Adi Alexander, father of captive Golani soldier Edan Alexander, and Ruby Chen, father of 19-year-old Itay, shared their struggles and called upon world leaders to secure the release of their loved ones and all the hostages.

The Genesis Prize, often called the “Jewish Nobel Prize,” was founded in 2013 to acknowledge Jewish achievement and contribution to humanity. By awarding the 2024 prize to these five organizations, Stan Polovets and the Genesis Prize Foundation aim to inspire global support and solidarity in the fight to bring the hostages home and provide the necessary support for their families during this difficult time.