Moshe Ohayon
Five leading international Americans – the head coach of Louisville City FC, a visionary for educational justice, a culinary genius, a financial advisor and young community leader, and a pioneering physician and nonprofit founder – will be recognized for their achievements with the 2018 MOSAIC Awards.
This year’s recipients are Moshe Ohayon from Israel, Dr. Shiao Woo from Malaysia, James O’Connor from Ireland, Anoosh Shariat from Iran, and Seema Sheth of Indian and Sudanese decent.
They will accept their honors during on May 17 awards dinner at the new Omni Hotel – a fundraising event that benefits Jewish Family & Career Services (JFCS).
The MOSAIC Awards honor international Americans who have made significant contributions to their professions, and to the local and global communities.
To date, The MOSAIC Awards have recognized 62 international Americans for making Louisville a “richer and more interesting city,” said JFCS Executive Director Judy Freundlich Tiell in a prepared statement.
“JFCS was founded to assist newcomers to Louisville, and this event honors its original mission,” Tiell said.
Dr. Shiao Woo
A cocktail reception will start at 5 p.m. and will feature a showcase of new micro-businesses that have received training and financial assistance from the JFCS Navigate Enterprise Center.
“Many new businesses only have a small budget for marketing,” Navigate Director Cynthia Brown said in a prepared statement. “By introducing our businesses to the people attending the MOSAIC Awards, we hope to generate interest in the products and services they provide and create new clients for them.”
This year’s recipients come from diverse backgrounds:
• Moshe Ohayon is the founder and executive director of Educational Justice, a nonprofit organization that designs and implements educational programs for high-potential students in underserved areas in Louisville. He utilizes student volunteers, some of whom participate in his other programs through the Louisville Tutoring Agency, which he also founded and continues as the managing partner.
• Dr. Shiao Woo is the medical director of Louisville CyberKnife and professor and chairman of the Department Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville School of Medicine. A board-certified radiation oncologist specializing in brain tumors and pediatric radiation oncology. Woo is a founding member of
James O’Connor
the Gfoundation, which works to eliminate hunger in Kentucky, particularly focusing on homebound seniors in Louisville.
• James O’Connor became Louisville City FC’s first head coach in 2014. Under him, the team won the United Soccer League Championship in 2017. Off the field, O’Connor is committed to constructing a new soccer-specific stadium in the Butchertown area close to downtown. He has put down roots in Louisville and has a contract through 2020 to remain as coach.
• Anoosh Shariat is a hospitality genius. The chef at Anoosh Bistro and Anoosh Nosh, he has been recognized with a “Best Chef” honor by Louisville Magazine, and his food has been described as a “flawless delight” by The Courier-Journal. He was the first chef from Kentucky to appear on the Food Network, and has been featured in Food Arts, USA Today, Gourmet, Food and Wine, The New York Daily News and Southern Living.
• Seema Sheth is a successful financial representative at Northwestern Mutual. A graduate from KCD, Sheth earned a bachelor’s degree in theater and spent time working for Starbucks in store and operational management. She also modeled in Los Angeles while getting her MBA. Realizing that financial
Anoosh Shariat
matters need to be taught to students much earlier in life, she founded Adulting Academy, an educational service in Louisville that teaches high school students the financial skills to become thriving, independent adults.
The Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence is the title sponsor of the MOSAIC Awards and WLKY 32 is the media sponsor. PharMerica, Heaven Hill, Churchill Downs and Louisville Public Media
Seema Sheth
also are major sponsors of the program. Terri and Steve Bass are the event’s honorary chairs and Ellen Shapira is chairing the event committee.
Tickets to the event are $150 per person, and table sponsorships begin at $2,000. For reservations, contact Beverly Bromley, JFCS director of development, at 502-452-6341, ext. 223 or bbromley@jfcslouisville.org.