The Genesis Prize Foundation’s Visionary Leader Stan Polovets on 10 Years of Honoring Jewish Values

Stan Polovets on how the Genesis Prize celebrates exceptional individuals from various fields who exemplify Jewish values and commitment to social impact.

As co-founder and chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation, Stan Polovets has guided the organization through 10 transformative years. The Genesis Prize is the most prestigious Jewish honor worldwide. It is awarded to those who excel professionally and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to Jewish identity and values. Under Stan Polovets’ leadership, the foundation has distinguished itself as a philanthropic force, bringing global attention to critical causes while uniting Jewish communities worldwide.

“The vision of the Genesis Prize is a strong and vibrant Jewish people, aware of its roots while looking to the future, a Jewish community flourishing in diversity yet united in appreciation of Jewish values and support for the Jewish state,” Stan Polovets explains.

His background in global leadership across industries ranging from energy to finance has played a vital role in shaping the foundation’s strategic approach. For Polovets, the Genesis Prize represents more than an award; it’s a platform to amplify philanthropy and inspire future generations.

According to Polovets, The Genesis Prize Foundation’s approach “has been one of innovation, inclusivity, and agility in allowing GP and its honorees the opportunity to find timely issues in need of philanthropic contribution and global attention.”

Stan Polovets on the Power of Purpose-Driven Philanthropy

“The more Jews feel proud and connected to their identity and see highly accomplished individuals demonstrating the same, the stronger our global community will be heading into the future,” says Polovets. 

With this vision of a united and empowered community, Polovets has shaped The Genesis Prize Foundation’s approach to philanthropy. The foundation operates on an innovative model emphasizing collaboration and matching grants, which Stan Polovets views as essential to maximizing philanthropic reach. He says, “One very successful strategy has been our matching grants programs, which has doubled and tripled the annual $1 million prize, galvanizing other funders around important philanthropic causes.”

The Genesis Prize Foundation collaborated with the Jewish Funders Network in the United States and Matan/United Way in Israel. “Both are conveners of funders around the world, and The Genesis Prize Foundation was able to rely on both for guidance on how best to structure philanthropic themes to leverage additional donations,” explains Stan Polovets. 

The Genesis Prize: A Purpose Beyond Recognition

Each Genesis Prize laureate is selected for his or her accomplishments and contributions to humanity, and each forgoes the $1 million financial award and works with the Genesis Prize Foundation to direct the funds to philanthropic causes. This approach amplifies the prize’s impact and channels millions of dollars into initiatives aligned with Jewish values.

Starting in 2014 with its inaugural laureate, Michael Bloomberg, entrepreneur and the former mayor of New York City, directed his award to create the Genesis Generation Challenge, funding social impact projects led by young adults worldwide. In 2015, actor Michael Douglas was honored for his advocacy in fostering a welcoming and inclusive Jewish community, dedicating his prize to programs that support interfaith families. Violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman received the prize in 2016, directing his award to promote disability inclusion, a cause he championed throughout his life, shaped by his own experience with polio.

In 2017, Anish Kapoor, a British Jewish sculptor of Indian descent, used his award to support Syrian refugees. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was recognized with the inaugural Genesis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, and funds were dedicated in her honor to organizations supporting women’s empowerment. This was in line with her own work in civil liberties and gender equality. 

In 2019, Robert Kraft, the owner of the NFL team with the most Super Bowl wins, the New England Patriots, received the prize for his commitment to combating antisemitism. In addition to the Genesis Prize funds, Kraft made a $20 million personal donation to establish the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.

2020 laureate, the human rights activist Natan Sharansky, redirected the $1 million Genesis Prize award to aid vulnerable communities in Israel and worldwide who were suffering from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis.

In 2021, filmmaker Steven Spielberg directed his award — together with his own donation of $1 million — toward initiatives promoting racial and economic justice in the United States, consistent with his long-standing commitment to social justice. In 2022, Dr. Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, used his award to support Holocaust education by funding a museum in Thessaloniki, Greece, his family’s ancestral home.

Stan Polovets’ commitment to impactful philanthropy was illustrated in 2023 when The Genesis Prize Foundation shifted its focus from an individual laureate to recognizing Jewish organizations aiding the Ukrainian people following Russia’s invasion. Inspired by the Jewish values of freedom, resilience, and solidarity, the Genesis Prize honored groups working to provide relief and humanitarian assistance intended to alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people, led by their brave Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky. 

The 2024 prize went to Israeli organizations supporting hostages and their families impacted by the Hamas terror attack. Polovets stated, “The purpose of this year’s award is to raise international awareness of the plight of the hostages and provide humanitarian assistance focused on recovery, rehabilitation, and treatment.”

He continued, “This award is not a political statement, and it is not our intent to influence government policy. The Genesis Prize is a humanitarian award, and this year, it seeks to achieve three things: ensure the world does not forget the plight of the captives; provide additional aid to organizations focused on assisting the hostages and their families; and, last but not least, honor the selfless work of organizations that spontaneously emerged after Oct. 7.

“These volunteers are an inspiring example of Jewish strength and unity who have already earned a place in the history of the Jewish people and Israel. The 2024 Genesis Prize is a recognition of their indomitable spirit and the inspiration they have provided to all people of conscience around the world.”

In 2024, marking its 10th anniversary, The Genesis Prize Foundation recognized Barbra Streisand for her enduring contributions to the arts and activism. Streisand directed her prize funds to support women’s health, climate action, public truth, and aid for Ukrainian citizens.

“The decade of Genesis Prize awards has been leveraged into over $50 million for charitable causes,” says Stan Polovets. The Genesis Prize Foundation evaluates its impact by the extensive network of over 200 organizations it has supported and the distinguished group of honorees it has celebrated who embody and uphold Jewish values in their lives.

“We also look at the impact we have on the laureates themselves,” Polovets says. “By giving them a meaningful Jewish experience and recognition, we hope that they, too, will be moved to be involved more Jewishly.”