Jonathon Ornstein, CEO of the Jewish Community Center of Krakow, Poland, will be honored by the Values-in-Action Foundation for the JCC Krakow\u2019s work of resettling 500,000 Ukrainians impacted by war.<\/p>\n
The \u201cRescuer of Humanity\u201d Award will be presented at the Values Matter 32nd Annual Awards Dinner at 5:30 p.m. June 10 at Landerhaven at 6111 Landerhaven Drive in Mayfield Heights.<\/p>\n
Ornstein is the latest among many \u201cheavy hitters\u201d who have received the award, according to Stuart Muszynski, Values-in-Action president and CEO. Others who have received the award include Steven Spielberg, President Jimmy Carter, Hotel Rwanda manager Paul Rusesabagina and 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine winner Dr. Drew Weissman.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, on the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, the award was given to retired U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have quite a list of luminaries, a \u2018who\u2019s who\u2019 of goodness and kindness who have all gone out of their way, despite adversity, because they believe it\u2019s important to lift up humanity,\u201d Muszynski, who co-founded Values-in-Action with his wife, Susan, in 1994, told the Cleveland Jewish News.<\/p>\n
A native New Yorker, Ornstein has been the executive director of JCC Krakow since it opened in 2008 in the city\u2019s Jewish Kazimierz district. According to its website, the JCC provides Krakow\u2019s growing Jewish community space to meet, learn and share ideas in a warm, welcoming environment.<\/p>\n
About three years ago, a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, JCC Krakow initiated the Ukraine Humanitarian Campaign. It has helped 500,000 Ukrainian refugees of all faiths who have poured into the city seeking a haven. The Ukrainian Humanitarian Campaign\u2019s Ukrainian- and Russian-speaking staff provides food, housing and employment assistance, along with Polish language classes.<\/p>\n
When it comes to selecting the annual recipient of its international Rescuer of Humanity Award, Muszynski said the Values-in-Action Foundation looks carefully at nominations that come in from all over the world of people who embody its mission to create meaningful culture change by leading with kindness, caring and respect.<\/p>\n
Its current \u201cwish list\u201d of future awardees includes Pope Leo XIV and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look carefully at what individuals and organizations are deserving of the title \u2018Rescuer of Humanity,\u2019\u201d Muszynski said. \u201cSo many people today are focused on themselves. There\u2019s so much anger and resentment. We need to spread the message that we can lift each other up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ornstein, whom Muszynski calls \u201ca fabulous honoree,\u201d was nominated for the Rescuer of Humanity Award two years ago by someone who works with another organization in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an incredible Jewish story of goodness. We\u2019re not a religious organization, but Jewish goodness stories have to get out there,\u201d Muszynski said. \u201cToo many stories across the airwaves are actually antisemitic propaganda. We need people to see a Jewish organization that wants to treat others the way we were not treated during the Holocaust. This organization has resettled 500,000 Ukrainians ravaged by war. We felt they were incredible rescuers of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other honorees will be Paul H. Carleton, managing partner of Carleton McKenna & Co.; Vincent J. Delie Jr., chairman, president and CEO of FNB Corp. and First National Bank, with appreciation for Ohio regional president Boyd K. Pethel; and The Michael Gibbons family in memory of former Values-in-Action board chair, Michael E. Gibbons, honoring his continuing legacy of kindness.<\/p>\n
The dinner, which will also feature other local awards, raises about $700,000, or 14%, of the annual budget of the Values-in-Action Foundation, Muszynski said.<\/p>\n