A Belgian medical CEO and environmentalist, a Scottish opera producer and author, a Bolivian businessman helping the Latino community, a Pakistani cardiologist, and a dynamic entrepreneurial Indian couple.
These six individuals have made their mark in our community and will be recognized for their accomplishments at the seventh annual MOSAIC Awards to be held on Thursday, May 17, at The Henry Clay. This fundraising event honors immigrants and refugees who have made a significant contribution in their profession and in our community. The event benefits Jewish Family & Career Services, which was founded to assist newcomers to Louisville. This event honors its original mission.
The cocktail reception will start at 5 p.m. and will feature a showcase of new micro-businesses whose owners have received training and financial assistance from the JFCS Navigate Enterprise Center. The showcase will be located in the first-floor lobby of The Henry Clay.
“Many new businesses only have a small budget for marketing,” comments Judy Freundlich Tiell, JFCS Executive Director. “By introducing our businesses to the 300-400 people attending the MOSAIC Awards, we hope to generate interest in the products and services they provide and create new clients for them.”
The JFCS Enterprise Center was chosen by a YUM! Ignite Team to increase its visibility in the community through marketing and to develop a larger financial base for funding micro-businesses. The Center has been renamed “Compass Enterprise Center” to emphasize how JFCS can help entrepreneurs chart their course for new business opportunities.
Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services is the MOSAIC Awards title sponsor and WLKY 32 is the media sponsor. The station’s Rick Van Hoose will be the master of ceremonies. Papercone Corporation is a new major sponsor.
Judy Borinstein and Helen Wahba are co-chairs of the event committee. Other committee members are Mark Ament, Jeani Bryant, Mary Cleary, Sunny Dronawat, Paulette Dubofsky, Debbie Friedman, Sandi Friedson, Jan Glaubinger, Laura Klein, Michael Iacovazzi-Pau, Sophie Maier, Melissa Mershon, Djenita Pasic, Claudia Peralta-Mudd, Beth Salamon, Robin Stratton, Diane Tobin and Geoff Vederosa.
Tickets to the event are $100 per person and table sponsorship is $1,500. For reservations, contact Beverly Bromley, JFCS Director of Development, 452-6341, ext. 223, or bbromley@jfcslouisville.org.
Honorees this year are:
Israel Benitos – Bolivia
Owner of the Benitos Group & Subrogation Analyst at Trover/Transpac Solutions; service provider for the Southern Indiana Hispanic community; Center for Lay Ministries; and volunteer coach for the Clark County Soccer Association.
Cedric Francois, M.D., Ph.D. – Belgium
Entrepreneur; co-founder and CEO/president of Potentia Pharmaceuticals, finding a cure for macular degeneration; founder of Apellis, developing new drug therapy for severe asthmatics and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); founder of Project Amsterdam, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to control global climate change; and member of Kentucky BioAlliance Board of Directors.
Mohammed Hussain, M.D. – Pakistan
One of the first immigrants from Pakistan in Greater Louisville; established the first cardiology facility in Southern Indiana in the 1970s, which became River City Cardiology; instrumental in founding the local Islamic Cultural Center; and provided resettlement assistance to many Islamic refugees from the Balkans.
Rishabh Mehrotra – India
President of SHPS, a world-class provider of health management and benefits solutions; chairman of Health Enterprises Network; Young Professionals Organization; board of directors of Leadership Louisville and GLI; and listed in Business First’s Top 40 under 40.
Lopa Mehrotra – India
Founder and CEO, TestToob, Inc., an on-line learning community of young people around the world; Board of Trustees, Chance School; Community Advisory Boards of U of L; Board of Directors of Women 4 Women and interim CEO in 2011; and listed in Business First’s Top 40 under 40.
Thomson Smillie – Scotland
Retired Director of the Kentucky Opera; international lecturer and writer on opera and the arts; volunteer for the Festival of Faiths, member of The Italian Cultural Institution and other arts organizations throughout the region.