Philadelphia, PA, October 20- Six Olympians will be among the inaugural class of the Legends of the Maccabiah at a Gala Dinner on Tuesday, October 25 in San Francisco. Ken Flax, Mitch Gaylord, Brad Gilbert, Lenny Krayzelburg, Jason Lezak and Mark Spitz will all be in attendance at the dinner and joined by fellow legends: Leland Faust, Dana Gilbert, Paul Klapper, Gary Shemano and Bob Sockolov. The first Maccabi Spirit Award will be presented to Peter Pollat for his passion for combining Sports and Judaism. Also being honored as members of this first class of Legends will be Wendy Paskin-Jordan and Max Sheldon (z”l).
The Legends of the Maccabiah program was created to publically and permanently recognize those Athletes, Volunteers and Supporters who have supported Maccabi USA. The Maccabi Spirit Award was created to recognize those individuals who embody the Maccabi Ideals of using Sports as a means to engage Jewish athletes to strengthen their Jewish Identity, Support for Israel and Jewish Continuity.
The Master of Ceremonies for the Dinner is NBA Top 50 Legend Rick Barry and among the guests in attendance will be three-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Steve Clark.
Maccabi USA is a unique, not-for-profit organization that uses Sports as a means to strengthen Jewish Identity and Continuity. Sports is our vehicle for building Jewish Pride. Maccabi USA’s most high-profile project is the World Maccabiah Games, the “Jewish Olympics.” Jewish athletes of all ages and backgrounds convene in Israel to share their culture, history and values and to compete for two unforgettable weeks of world-class competition which is sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.
The 19th World Maccabiah Games will take place in Israel in July, 2013 and we are working to bring a USA Team that is 900+ strong. The cost of bringing the USA Team to compete in these Games will be approximately $9,000,000. It is our goal that no qualified athlete be left behind for financial reasons. The Maccabiah Legends Dinner will help raise the much-needed dollars that will help fund the USA Team to participate in the 19th Maccabiah.
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a co-founder of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and excellence in sport.