The Genesis Prize Foundation GPF has been associated, directly and indirectly, with two high-profile developments in the last week. Are you going to rescind the prize and select a different laureate in light of the allegations made against Robert Kraft last week?
Stan Polovets: Absolutely not. Robert was selected for decades of extraordinarily generous philanthropy, his unwavering support of Israel, and unparalleled success in his field of work — professional sports.
He first traveled to Israel on his honeymoon with his late wife Myra in and has been a loyal supporter of the country for over 50 years. As one of the most committed Jewish philanthropists in the world, Robert has contributed half a billion dollars to philanthropic causes, including cancer research and treatment, healthcare, education and interfaith relations. This makes him a highly deserving laureate, which is why the 12 members of the two committees that choose Genesis Prize laureates selected him unanimously.
The incident reported last week is unfortunate. However, as of now, it remains an unproven allegation. Through a spokesman, Robert has categorically denied that he engaged in any illegal activity. Kraft will come to Israel as planned? As we previously announced, Robert will come to Israel the week of June 16 and will be accompanied by a group of current and former NFL players, as was the case on his two prior visits.
We are planning a series of events to honor not just Robert, but also the good works of his late wife Myra. I know that the Israel Football League, which Robert helped launch and fund, is also planning an event to honor him.
