FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 11, 2017

The Jewish National Fund of Canada – Manitoba & Saskatchewan Regional Branch is pleased to announce our 2018 Negev Gala Honourees: the Manitoba Chapter Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity and one of its most distinguished members, Dr. Gerald Niznick, who has received Honourary Doctorate Degrees from both the University of Manitoba and Tel Aviv University. Alpha Omega Fraternity is a renewed dental society with a proud history of 110 years. Dr. Niznick received Alpha Omega’s highest honour, the Achievement Medal, for his significant contributions to the dental implant field.

The Negev Gala will be held on Tuesday, May 29 at the Centennial Concert Hall.

“Our branch is thrilled that Dr. Niznick and the Alpha Omega Fraternity (MB Chapter) will be our honourees for the 2018 Negev Gala”, stated regional President Jessica Cogan.

Alpha Omega Fraternity (Manitoba Chapter) and Dr. Niznick have chosen to support the construction of a new Dental Clinic for children and young adults with special needs, serious mobility issues and complex health conditions in Israel. The treatment received at the specialized dental clinic will enable Israel’s most vulnerable members to benefit from the highest quality dental care and hygiene in an atmosphere most suitable and supportive to their needs.  This project is a partnership between JNF and  ALEH C.A.R.E.S., Israel’s largest Network of Care for Children with Severe Multiple Disabilities.

Alpha Omega Fraternity was founded in 1907, in response to the virulent racism and Anti-Semitism that was rampant in Dental Schools at that time. Initially, the fraternity was comprised of only student chapters, but in 1916, the first alumni chapter was established in Philadelphia, adding a new dimension to the fraternity. Currently, Alpha Omega has over 100 chapters in 10 countries. Alpha Omega’s values are: Commitment; Integrity; Family; Global Oral Health; Inclusivity; Leadership and Social Justice. The foundational spirit of the Alpha Omega Fraternity is to heal the world through charitable endeavours.

Concurrent with Alpha Omega’s activities to promote dentistry and dental education in North America, Alpha Omega continued its strong interest and affiliation with the State of Israel. The Fraternity inaugurated a campaign to raise funds for the establishment of a dental school in Jerusalem that opened in 1964. In addition, a separate dental school facility was established in Tel Aviv in 1987. This carries the designation “Founded by Alpha Omega Fraternity”.

Alpha Omega Fraternity has been recognized throughout the Western World, as an honoured, respected society of dentists, scientist and researchers. It was this spirit of dedication to the profession, to dental health, education and research as well as philanthropy that served as a platform upon which the Alpha Omega (Manitoba Chapter) Foundation was created.

The Manitoba Alpha Omega Foundation has over the years supported numerous charities, causes and organizations: The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba; the Simkin Centre; Jewish Child and Family Service; Canadian Museum for Human Rights; Canadian Institute for the Study of Antisemitism (CISA); the DVI outreach program in Jerusalem; Siloam Mission;  Christmas Cheer Board; and the School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, where the Alpha Omega board room /  conference room was built and funded by the fraternity. Most recently, the Manitoba A. O. Foundation helped fund the retraining of an international dentist to practice in Manitoba, and in response to former Vice President Joe Biden’s concerns about the Dental Health of Holocaust Survivors, partnered with Henry Schein Inc. and A. O. International, to diagnose, and provide all eligible Manitoba Holocaust survivors with free Dental care.

Dr. Gerald Niznick graduated from the University Of Manitoba College Of Dentistry in 1966, earned a master’s degree in prosthodontics at Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1968 and was awarded a Honourary Doctorate Degree from the University of Manitoba in 2002.  In 2003 Tel Aviv University also confered upon Dr. Niznick a Honourary Doctorate degree. In 2007, Dr. Niznick received Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity’s highest honor, the Achievement Medal, at its Centennial Convention in Israel for his significant contributions to the dental implant field. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs issued a commendation to Dr. Niznick for conceiving and funding the largest dental clinical study, encompassing treatment of over 900 patients with about 3000 implants. Dr. Niznick has trained thousands of dentists around the world on placing and restoring implants and has received 32 US patents in the field of Implant Dentistry.

Founded in 1901, the Jewish National Fund has evolved into a global environment leader, planting over 240 million trees, constructing more than 250 reservoirs & dams and developing over 250,000 acres of land while creating more than 1000 parks and providing stable infrastructure for over 1000 communities.

The Negev Gala has honoured outstanding leaders in Winnipeg since 1953. The Negev Gala is the Jewish National Fund’s most important fundraising event of the year. The net proceeds generated are directed to environmental, research & development and community development projects in the State of Israel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Cynthia Fidel

Program and Communications Coordinator

Phone: 204-947-0207 E-Mail: [email protected]