We’re happy to announce that Mark Gelfand is the primary recipient of the C. Wallace Hooser Award for Visionary Philanthropy. Impressed by the house race of the Sixties, Mark has all the time been eager about know-how and the way issues work. He acquired a level in physics and went on to work in finance, awed by the mathematical similarities between thermodynamics and monetary markets.
Mark joined The Planetary Society in 1998. He has given generously to the group through the years, supporting bold know-how initiatives reminiscent of photo voltaic crusing and a mission to ship microorganisms on a round-trip mission to the Martian moon Phobos.
“The Planetary Society offers with issues which might be accessible, if not right this moment, quickly — inside a decade or two,” he mentioned.
Mark is passionate in regards to the energy of STEM (science, know-how, engineering, and math) schooling. He’s the founder and president of STEMpower, a company that has established greater than 110 STEM facilities throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The group offers enrichment facilities and hands-on labs that encourage pre-university college students to pursue STEM careers.
It’s difficult work, and Mark mentioned that STEMpower’s observe document of getting issues executed is just like that of The Planetary Society. “We do what’s sensible and doable,” he mentioned. “We don’t dream of issues; we do issues.”
Together with his trademark humility, Mark mentioned that he was honored to obtain the award and famous that a lot of the credit score goes to his STEMpower employees. “It’s all a beautiful honor. I’m glad persons are realizing that they see some worth on this and what we’re doing,” he mentioned.
The Planetary Society sees nice worth in how Mark is altering the world, and we’re happy to bestow this honor. Wally could be proud.
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