Gal Gadot Donates Entire $1 Million Genesis Prize to Israeli Mental Health Organizations

International actress Gal Gadot, a recipient of the 2026 Genesis Prize, along with the Genesis Prize Foundation and the Jewish Funders Network (JFN), announced a total of $3 million in grants to 27 Israeli non-profit organizations. These organizations provide critical support to caregivers, mental health professionals, and frontline workers dealing with the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attacks and the ongoing war.

Upon receiving the award, often referred to as the "Jewish Nobel," Gadot declared her intention to dedicate her $1 million prize money to organizations focused on rebuilding Israeli society. In collaboration with JFN, an additional $2 million was raised and donated in her name, bringing the total grant amount to $3 million. The funds will be distributed to professionals and organizations working in mental health, trauma treatment, and supporting families and communities affected by the conflict.

Gadot stated that after three years of immense hardship, loss, and struggle, she chose to direct the prize money towards caregivers and medical teams who are instrumental in helping individuals rebuild their lives. She emphasized that values of care and solidarity are deeply rooted in Jewish heritage and collective responsibility, and that strengthening caregivers will aid in the healing of families and communities.

Stan Polovets, co-founder and chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation, praised Gadot's decision to transform the recognition into action and leverage the prize for significant impact. This substantial support comes amidst concerning data from a 2025 State Comptroller's report, which indicated that 34% of Israel's adult population, approximately 2.5 to 3 million people, reported moderate to severe post-traumatic stress symptoms, while the mental health system faces unprecedented strain.

Following a two-month selection process that reviewed 150 applications, 27 organizations across Israel were chosen, including United Hatzalah, Make-A-Wish Israel, and CareGivers Israel. Gadot, who has been a prominent global voice condemning the Hamas atrocities and organized private screenings of massacre footage for Hollywood executives, joins a distinguished list of past Genesis Prize laureates such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michael Bloomberg, Natan Sharansky, Albert Bourla, Barbra Streisand, Robert Kraft, Steven Spielberg, and Argentinian President Javier Milei.