Fox Filmed Entertainment CEO Jim Gianopulos was honored with the Humanitarian Award by the Simon Wiesenthal Center Tuesday night during the annual National Tribute Dinner in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Gianopulos became the sole CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment earlier this year. He received the award – a Menorah inside a glass case – from film producer and DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.
“This is going to look good in a Greek household,” Katzenberg said during the ceremony.
In bringing light to the Greek-American’s accomplishments and eye for groundbreaking films in the industry, including “Avatar,” Katzenberg also spoke of Gianopulos’ humanitarianism.
“Now in order to be a true humanitarian,” he said of the Fox CEO, “you first have to be a true human. Or Jim, as you might say in Greek, a ‘mensch.’ And you, Jim, are the real deal. Your humanity is on display in everything you do.”
All of Fox’s top executives turned out to support Gianopulos, who, upon receiving his award, discussed Simon Wiesenthal’s dedication to honoring Jews in the Holocaust.
“His message must be a call to action for all of us,” Gianapulos said, adding “especially for those of us who live lives so often insulated from the suffering of others, when it is easy to turn away and immerse ourselves in our work and our families and pretend it’s not our problem.”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is a global Jewish human rights organization that confronts anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism, promotes human rights and dignity, stands with Israel, defends the safety of Jews worldwide, and teaches the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations. In addition to operating the Museum of Tolerance, the center also holds classes on the Holocaust for school children across Southern California, will soon open a museum in Jerusalem, and has a film division – Moriah Films – that received Academy Awards for the documentaries “The Long Way Home” and “Genocide.
The National Tribute Dinner raised $2.2 million dollars this year, a record breaking amount for the event.
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