Al Gore, Tom Stoppard and Amos Oz Are 2008 Dan David Prize winners

The Dan David Prize, which annually awards three prizes of $1 million each for outstanding achievement, announced the names of its 2008 laureates on February 12. The laureates, who donate 10% of their prize money towards 20 Tel Aviv University doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships, will be honored at a ceremony on May 19, 2008, at Tel Aviv University in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres.

Accepting the award, Vice President Gore noted that he would contribute all of his prize money to continuing environmental efforts around the globe. “I am happy and pleased to announce that my wife Tipper and I will be donating not only 10 per cent but 100 per cent of all of the Dan David Award to those involved in non-profit activity arousing public opinion in the U.S. and worldwide to solve the climate crises,” he said. “This entire award will help bring millions of people to a new realization of why we must urgently solve the greatest challenge confronting us today: the climate challenge.”

Prize is the Brainchild of International Businessman and Philanthropist

The Dan David Prize is named after international businessman and philanthropist Dan David. It is headquartered at Tel Aviv University, whose President, Prof. Zvi Galil, serves as Chairman of its Board. The Dan David Foundation provides all of the funds for the prize; the board selects the annual laureates.

The Dan David Prize is unique in choosing to recognize fields of human endeavor that change from year to year, permitting the vision of the award to remain responsive to the times.

Artists and Scientists Also Recognized

The 2008 laureates, who are selected in the Past, Present and Future Time Dimensions, are:

Past — Sharing the prize in the field of "Creative Rendering of the Past — Literature, Theater, Film":

• Amos Oz (Arad, Israel) for portraying historical events while emphasizing the individual, and for his personal exploration of the tragic conflict between two nations.

• Tom Stoppard (London, Britain) for being a master playwright whose plays demonstrate farcical cleverness alongside profound humanity and faith in goodness, beauty and love.

• Atom Egoyan (Canada) for his superb modernist filmmaking which explores Armenian history and culture.