Second Annual Einstein Gala celebrates a century of the Theory of Relativity and today's world-changing visionaries

Anderson Cooper hosts star-studded dinner on May 15

TORONTO, March 13, 2016 /CNW/ - On March 14, 1879, an icon was born. Albert Einstein revolutionized physics with the general theory of relativity and became a symbol of intellectual curiosity for the world. To mark his birthday, The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University (CFHU) announce today a star-studded gala dinner at the Carlu on May 15, 2016.

The dinner, hosted and moderated by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, celebrates 100 years of the theory of relativity and the contributions of visionaries and innovators who embody Einstein's legacy. The evening comes one year after the first Einstein Gala hosted by Chelsea Clinton.

Einstein was not only a world-changing scientific mind but also a multi-faceted leader. Proceeds from this year's gala will go to empower future Einsteins in four areas that made Einstein into an icon for humanity – Science, Technology, Innovation and Humanitarianism.

Those four areas also serve as the categories for the recipients of the Jake Eberts Key of Knowledge Award that recognizes leaders who have bettered society through the dissemination of knowledge, innovation and personal example. Academy Award®-winning actor Morgan Freeman was a past recipient. This year's honorees include: The Azrieli Foundation, represented by its Chair and CEO Dr. Naomi Azrieli, Shuki Levy, music composer, television writer, director and co-founder of Saban Entertainment; Jeff Martin, former Apple Executive and CEO of Tribal Planet; and Apotex Inc. represented by its Chairman Dr. Barry Sherman.

The Einstein Gala is a part of the Einstein Legacy Project, a series of projects that honour the greatest minds and innovators on the planet. Other initiatives include: the world's first 3D-printed book, Genius: 100 Visions Of The Future; the Next Einstein competition, in which applicants send in their genius ideas for changing the world; and the Einstein Museum, an immersive, interactive institution which will bring the contributions of history's greatest thinker to life.

To learn more about the Einstein Legacy Project: http://einsteinlegacyproject.com

About The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University
The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University (CFHU) facilitates academic and research partnerships between Canada and Israel as well as establishing scholarships, supporting research, cultivating student and faculty exchanges and recruiting Canadian students to attend the university.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU), founded in 1918 and opened in 1925, is Israel's leading university. Albert Einstein, Martin Buber, and Sigmund Freud, were among the university's founders, they were thinkers and visionaries whose genius inspired a university that would have no limits or borders. Ranked as one of the world's leading research universities (ranked 3rd in Asia and 70^th globally), HU lies at the forefront of the international academic and scientific communities. Many top prizes and awards have been won by its graduates and faculty including eight Nobel Prizes, and the Fields Medal in Mathematics. HU is a pluralistic institution where science and knowledge are advanced for the benefit of humankind in an atmosphere free of discrimination and prejudice.

Visit: www.cfhu.org

SOURCE Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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