Economist and Actor to be honored at Reform Judaism conference


Published: Thursday, December 13, 2007 1:18 PM EST
http://www.jewishledger.com/articles...ver/news01.txt

NEW YORK-Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, one of the most important leaders of the campaign against global poverty, and Michael J. Fox, award-winning actor and principal figure in the fight to cure Parkinson’s Disease, will both receive the Maurice N. Eisendrath Bearer of Light Award, one of the Reform Jewish Movement’s highest honors, during the Union for Reform Judaism’s Biennial Convention in San Diego.

The Eisendrath Award is named for the former executive director and president of the Union, who served the organization from 1943 until his death in 1973.

“Professor Sachs has done as much as any single person to improve the lives of the world’s poor,” said Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. “His creative and far-reaching efforts to improve the human condition and his work as an activist economist, echo Rabbi Eisendrath’s devotion to the prophetic ideal,” Yoffie said.

The work of Michael J. Fox inspires us all, Yoffie said. “His efforts to garner support for research into a cure for Parkinson’s Disease in general, and for stem cell research in particular, are in keeping with the highest ideals of Judaism. His passion, his vision, and his willingness to share his personal story are nothing less than inspirational.”

A leading international economic adviser, Sachs is being honored for his life-time commitment to alleviating global poverty.

The director of the UN Millennium Project from 2002 to 2006, Sachs served as special advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the Millennium Development Goals, the internationally agreed goals to reduce extreme poverty, disease and hunger by the year 2015. He is also the president and cofounder of Millennium Promise Alliance, a nonprofit organization whose vision is the eradication of extreme global poverty by 2025.
In 2004 and 2005 r Sachs was named among the 100 most influential leaders in the world by Time Magazine. He is the author of hundreds of scholarly articles and many books, including the New York Times best seller The End of Poverty.

In 1991 Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Since going public with the news in 1998, he has assumed the role of advocate, dedicating himself to bringing awareness to Parkinson’s disease. He founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000, which has funded more than $50 million for Parkinson’s research (directly or through partnerships) in a little over three years. Fox has testified on Capitol Hill in favor of stem cell research and increased federal funding for Parkinson’s disease.

Published in 1002, his best-selling autobiography “Lucky Man” has been translated into seven languages.

On the heels of being named one of America's top leaders for 2007 by U.S. News & World Report and Harvard's Center for Public Leadership, Michael J. Fox is now receiving one of the Reform Jewish Movement’s highest honors. Although not called such, he is being recognized as a "mensch" — a person of strength, honor, and basic decency with firmness of purpose. The entire Parkinson community should "kvell" over having such a person leading the fight to get us all to the dance.

Thank you, Mike, from the bottom of my heart!

Sheryl