Caring for one another is how we begin to move forward,” says Gal Gadot as The Genesis Prize Foundation and Jewish Funders Network award grants to two dozen Israeli nonprofits providing mental health treatment and trauma care to a nation still recovering from October 7.
“Awarding the Genesis Prize is not an end in itself; it's a means of making the world a better place.” Stan Polovets, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation.
NEW YORK / TEL AVIV, September 23, 2026 — Gal Gadot’s $1 million Genesis Prize has grown to $3 million in funding for trauma and mental health care in Israel, The Genesis Prize Foundation (GPF) announced today.
The funding will support two dozen Israeli nonprofit organizations providing trauma care and supporting frontline mental health professionals as millions of Israelis continue to experience the psychological consequences of the October 7 attacks and the wars that followed.
Gadot, the 2026 Genesis Prize laureate, chose not to retain the $1 million award associated with what TIME has called “the Jewish Nobel.” Instead, she directed the funds toward organizations and professionals at the forefront of Israel’s long-term psychological recovery. Through a matching initiative led by Jewish Funders Network, her award generated an additional $2 million in private and corporate donations.
“Awarding the Genesis Prize is not an end in itself; it's a means of making the world a better place,” said Stan Polovets, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation. “Gal joins an extraordinary group of past honorees, including Michael Bloomberg, Barbra Streisand, Natan Sharansky, Steven Spielberg and Robert Kraft, who have used the Genesis Prize to support humanitarian causes they believe in.
“Gal chose to focus on trauma and mental health in Israel. Her $1 million Genesis Prize became the foundation for a $3 million initiative supporting organizations helping Israelis heal.
“That is exactly what the Genesis Prize was created to do: celebrate extraordinary Jewish achievement and transform that recognition into meaningful impact.”
Gal Gadot said: “After three years of war, loss, and extraordinary hardship, I believe recovery starts from within. I want to dedicate these funds to the people who care for others every day: the doctors, nurses, medics, mental health professionals, and caregivers doing the difficult work of helping people recover and rebuild.
“Some of these organizations bring different communities together by their very nature. Others are simply there for people at their most vulnerable. But they all share the same idea: caring for one another is how we begin to move forward.
“That value is deeply connected to my Jewish heritage and to our responsibility to care for those who are hurting and help repair what has been broken. By strengthening the people who care for others, we can begin to heal families and communities, restore a sense of connection, and create the possibility of a more peaceful future.”
The scale of Israel’s mental health and trauma-care needs remains immense. Former Israeli State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman has estimated that as many as three million Israelis have experienced symptoms of trauma or post-traumatic stress related to the events of the past three years. Mental health professionals, social workers, educators, and caregivers across the country continue to face extraordinary demand, even as many contend with the effects of trauma themselves.
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About The Genesis Prize Foundation
The Genesis Prize Foundation celebrates Jewish achievement, strengthens Jewish identity, and supports philanthropic initiatives inspired by the values of its laureates. The annual $1 million Genesis Prize, known as “the Jewish Nobel,” honors extraordinary individuals for their professional accomplishments, contributions to humanity, and commitment to Jewish values and/or the State of Israel. Prize funds and matching philanthropy have supported initiatives in Israel and around the world, including programs that combat antisemitism, advance inclusion, provide humanitarian relief, support the rehabilitation of former hostages and their families, and strengthen ties between Israel and Latin America.
About Jewish Funders Network
Jewish Funders Network (JFN) is a global community of philanthropic leaders committed to effective, collaborative, and values-driven giving. JFN connects funders across generations, geographies, and issue areas to share knowledge, build partnerships, and strengthen the impact of Jewish and Jewish-adjacent philanthropy worldwide. Through convenings, research, and peer learning, JFN helps its members meet today’s most pressing challenges with strategic insight and collective action.
About the Grant Process
Over a two-month application period, GPF and JFN received 150 applications from Israeli nonprofits providing mental health treatment, caregiver training, trauma counseling, and social work services. Fifty-four organizations advanced through a rigorous review, and two dozen were selected, including Make-A-Wish Israel, United Hatzalah, and CareGivers Israel. The full list of grantees is available here.
Applicants were evaluated on demonstrated impact, organizational capacity, and ability to strengthen Israel’s mental health and caregiver infrastructure at scale. Each grantee was required to secure a match from a new donor or an increased gift from an existing donor.
The final portfolio reaches a broad cross-section of Israeli society, with grantees operating in northern, southern, and central Israel. Their programs serve mental health professionals, educators, frontline workers, social workers, family caregivers, children and youth, survivors of war and combat trauma, and underrepresented communities.