Albert Bourla donates $1 million prize to Holocaust Museum in Greece

·

After receiving $1 million as the recipient of 2022 Genesis Prize to the Holocaust Museum of Greece, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla donated that prize money back to the museum being built in his home city of Thessaloniki. 

Bourla was born in Thessaloniki and is a member of the city’s Jewish community, whose roots go back to the 15th century when Jews fleeing persecution from Spain settled in the city.

The annual Genesis Prize has been dubbed the “Jewish Nobel” by Time magazine and honours extraordinary individuals for their outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity and their commitment to Jewish values and the State of Israel. 

The Pfizer CEO was awarded the honour in Jerusalem on Wednesday at a gala event that was attended by Israeli dignitaries. In attendance at the gala were prominent representatives of the Jewish diaspora and leading members of the global medical community. 

President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, praised Bourla for his work on the Pfizer vaccine and his determination through a difficult global climate. 

“He believed in the vaccine, and invested every ounce of himself in realizing what seemed at the time a far-fetched fantasy,” said President Herzog. 

“The vaccine was developed in record speed, utilizing the technology of tomorrow to successfully hold back a devastating pandemic.”

Albert Bourla with Theresa May and Israeli President, Issac Herzog. Photo Albert Bourla/Twitter.

Bourla humbly accepted the award, expressing his gratitude for a recognition that he never sought out and said he was honoured to be amongst such great artists, philanthropists and figures who shine a light on Jewish people’s contributions. 

“Honored because I never set out to be famous, and I never imagined that I would one day be up here with the illustrious nominees and past awardees – artists, philanthropists, and statesmen and states women who show the world the best that the Jewish people have to offer,” he says. 

“This is not my award – it belongs to all Pfizer colleagues who worked tirelessly in the middle of a global pandemic to make the ‘impossible possible’ and give the world a chance to return to normalcy.”

Source: Ekathimerini

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Crown Resorts director, Andrew Demetriou, denies dishonesty at casino inquiry

Andrew Demetriou has been criticised at the Crown Resorts inquiry after he compromised his evidence by referring to secret notes.

Ferry crew members testify on passenger’s death at Port Piraeus

Crew members of the 'Blue Horizon' ferry charged with the death of 36-year-old Antonis Karyotis have testified. Read More.

Violence erupts between Greek police and thousands of anti-vaccine protesters in Athens

At least five people have been arrested after police clashed with demonstrators protesting against compulsory vaccination in central Athens.