Honorees Are: Scooter Braun, Hasan Minhaj, Will Packer, Ben Silverman & Hassan Al Thawadi
Los Angeles – The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU), the global address for Muslim-Jewish relations and the national address for African American-Jewish relations, will honor five leading entertainers and one Muslim leader for their commitment towards advancing ethnic understanding, at its Los Angeles Benefit on Wednesday, Oct. 25th, at the home of FFEU Chairman Russell Simmons. The benefit typically draws about 200 leading entertainment industry personalities. This year’s honorees are: Scooter Braun, Hasan Minhaj, Will Packer, Ben Silverman and Hassan Al Thawadi.
“The entertainment and media communities are typically at the forefront of promoting discussion, sensitivity and understanding between ethnic groups,” said Russell Simmons, FFEU chairman. “This year we have selected a terrific group of celebrities to honor who represent the ideals and values we promote with the FFEU.”
“The media and entertainment industry’s involvement has hastened the pace of better ethnic understanding because of the vast influence its members have,” said Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the foundation and recently served as the first Jewish Honorary Grand Marshall of the Muslim Day Parade. “Not only do our honorees reach a broad audience but also a younger one. Influencing understanding and dialogue among teens and young adults makes us hopeful for a better future relationship between groups from different backgrounds.”
Scooter Braun is one of the entertainment industry’s most iconic power brokers and the founder of SB Projects, a diversified entertainment and media company with ventures at the intersection of music, film, television, technology, brands, culture and social good.
Hasan Minhaj is a comedian, actor, host and writer. In November 2014, he made his debut as a full-time correspondent on the Emmy and Peabody award-winning The Daily Show. Recently, Minaj has the prestigious honor of hosting the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington DC.
Will Packer is an Emmy nominated producer who has established himself as one of Hollywood’s blockbuster hit makers with eight of his films opening number one at the box office. Packer was inducted as a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the organization known around the world for its annual Academy Awards.
Ben Silverman is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning show creator and media executive. He is the Chairman and Co-CEO of Propagate Content, a uniting producers, creators and advertisers to create all forms of content for distribution across a variety of platforms around the world.
Hassan Al Thawadi is the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the organization responsible for coordinating among public and private entities to ensure that infrastructure and development projects are delivered in readiness for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the first Muslim nation to host these prestigious games. Al Thawadi sees the World Cup as a platform for greater understanding and cooperation within the Muslim world.
Founded in 1989, the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding is the global address for Muslim-Jewish Relations, and the national address for African American-Jewish relations. The organization is committed to the belief that direct dialogue between ethnic communities is the most effective path towards reconciliation. For more information, please visit http://www.ffeu.org.