Untold News, an Israel advocacy group based in New York, is making headway explaining the marvelous innovations produced by the Jewish state. To add a fine point to the popularity of the Untold News platform (now with more than 350,000 “likes” on Facebook), founder Marcella Rosen has announced that the group will hold an awards dinner to honor innovators on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, at the Harmony Club in New York.

“We will offer a $10,000 cash award for each recipient,” Rosen says. Untold News will also send the recipients on a short media tour to Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City. “We plan to do this annually,” Rosen adds. The awards will recognize inventions of the last year.

Untold News features stories about Israeli achievers who excel in improving technological, agricultural, and medical fields. Whether it’s fish farming, desalination, or providing world-class medical care regardless of a patient’s background, Israel provides hope for millions around the world. These stories serve as a dramatic counterweight to the negative portrayals of Israel from international media.

Rosen feels the awards dinner will serve as a further spotlight on stories unknown to much of the general public. She is excited about the focus on innovators.

“Criteria are that they improve the human condition and have a ‘wow factor,’ and have a global impact. In each case, there are two applications: from scientific institutions and universities. Those interested in applying for consideration should get a dean or professor to endorse their nomination. Each applicant also must be an Israeli citizen.”

The two categories — science and technology — promise to focus on “up-and-coming” innovators. Rosen also emphasized that applicants must be able to speak English well enough to be interviewed by media.

“We want to celebrate the inventors and we want to get press coverage, to see how Israeli has impacted lives,” Rosen says. “People really aren’t aware of this and Israeli is such a valuable partner to the US.”

Ten nominees will be selected, and the names will then be sent to a jury. A single meeting will produce the winners.

The jury will be made up of prominent American academics, businesspeople, and others. To date nine have signed on:
• Joel Citron, venture capitalist, CEO, Tenth Avenue Holdings
• Dr. Barry Coller, Chief Medical Officer at Rockefeller University
• Alisa Doctoroff, President, UJA
• Margie Fox, Chief Creative Officer at Devries
• Heidi Jacobus, CEO of Cybernet Systems
• Eric Kandel, Nobel Laureate and professor at Columbia
• Morris Offit, CEO of Offit Capital
• David Schizer, just stepping down as Dean of Columbia Law School
• Tony Tether, former head of DARPA ($3 billion US government department to expedite scientific progress)

Those interested will find applications on the Untold News website — www.untoldnews.org.