HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER & DIRECTOR BRETT RATNER AND LOS ANGELES REAL ESTATE AGENT DAVID FRANK TO BE HONORED WITH JEWISH NATIONAL FUND’S PRESTIGIOUS TREE OF LIFE™ AWARD

September 18, 2017: Los Angeles, CA— Jewish National Fund (JNF) is deeply honored to recognize the tremendous accomplishments and visions of Hollywood director and producer Brett Ratner and longtime JNF supporter David Frank with its annual Tree of Life™ Award. 

     This prestigious humanitarian award is given in recognition of outstanding community involvement, dedication to the cause of American-Israeli friendship, and devotion to the peace and security of human life. The award honors leaders for their achievements and innovations and will be presented at Jewish National Fund’s annual Greater Los Angeles Tree of Life™ Award Dinner on Sunday, October 29, 2017 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel. 

     Among those honoring Ratner and Frank are event co-chairs Gal Gadot, Stanley Black, and David Wiener. Honorary Chairs include a powerhouse of Hollywood’s entertainment industry: Gary Barber, Jim Berkus, Mike De Luca, Toby Emmerich, Brian Grazer, Jonathan Glickman, Sherry Lansing, Avi Lerner, Marty Singer, Steven Spira, Kevin Tsujihara, and Adam Venit.

     Gal Gadot shared "I am honored to be serving as Co- Chair for the JNF Tree of Life™ Gala on October 29th. It will be my pleasure to honor my friend Brett Ratner and his generous giving and support for the opportunity of American students to study in my homeland of Israel at the Alexander Muss High School. Look forward to seeing you all there."

     Ratner, an alumnus of Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI-JNF), is one of Hollywood’s most successful film directors and producers. Among his many accolades, as director, Ratner’s films have grossed over $2 billion at the global box office. He is also the co-founder and CEO of RatPac Entertainment, a film finance and media company, in partnership with Len Blavatnik’s Access Entertainment. 

     “I am thrilled to be receiving this humanitarian award from JNF,” said Ratner. “Attending Alexander Muss High School in Israel was a life-altering experience, which left a significant imprint on me. And now it is my honor to be able to provide the next generation with the opportunity to have a meaningful journey of living and studying in our homeland. I have no doubt that it will be as rewarding for them as it was for me.”

     “Brett is one of the coolest individuals I have met,” said Sharon Freedman, JNF’s National Campaign Director. “Smart, funny, creative, and engaging, it’s a real honor to be presenting him with the prestigious Tree of Life™ Award.  As an Alexander Muss High School Alumni, Brett understands the significance of his influence on the next generation and the power his words carry. It is through the decency and generosity of individuals like Brett that high school students will continue to thrive and have these meaningful opportunities to study and flourish in Israel.”

     Recently, Ratner made a generous gift and sponsored the Brett Ratner Impact Fellowship for Greater Los Angeles area students to attend AMHSI-JNF for a semester program. The program sends distinguished high school students who have demonstrated the skills and disposition needed to rise to positions of leadership to Israel with AMHSI-JNF for a transformative experience that will ignite their passion and inspire them to make an impact. Through their hard work and acceptance into the fellowship, these students will become agents of change in the Jewish world today and the leaders of tomorrow.

     Frank has been actively involved with Jewish National Fund since 1985, when he first joined the board of directors. He served a five year term as president and is currently the chairman of the Greater Los Angeles Board. He also sits on the AMHSI-JNF board and is a part of its National Development Committee. Among his many gifts to the organization, Frank’s family co-sponsored the new study hall on the AMHSI-JNF Hod HaSharon campus. 

     “We are fortunate to have David as part of our JNF family,” said Louis Rosenberg, Executive Director, Greater Los Angeles. “Not only does David have tremendous institutional knowledge, but his passion and unwavering commitment to Israel are exemplary.  We hope to have him on our team for another 32 years and beyond!”

     “I am very honored and humbled to be selected as a Tree of Life™ honoree,” said Frank. “This marks the culmination of a 60-year relationship with Jewish National Fund, which began at the age of six when I was a day school student purchasing trees from JNF by buying stamps for a nickel and filling in the outline of a tree.  It is remarkable to see how far the organization has come and how much it continues to do to provide for land and people of Israel.”

     To purchase tickets or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rosenberg atlrosenberg@jnf.org or 323.964.1400 x954.