“An ode to our common humanity: “One World – Out of Many, We are One.”
Honoring extraordinary people and organizations
The One World Award is the Sarasota Sister Cities premier international award that honors one remarkable individual and one organization that have enhanced “understanding and respect” among citizens of the world through their extraordinary work or volunteer service.
This award shines the spotlight on individuals and organizations that have demonstrated their continued ability to create and maintain strong bonds of peace and understanding among the world’s citizens through their extraordinary work and service to the community.
The awards are presented to honorees at our annual Gala Dinner Event.
Individual Award Winners
2011 – Robert Roskamp
Roskamp Institute is a worldwide leader in finding cures for Alzheimer’s disease and mental disorders.
2012 – Nicholas Bollettieri
IMG Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, which became the IMG academy, and now expanded to additional sports training.
2013 – Former Mayor Lou Ann Palmer
As Mayor, she led the development of Sarasota for many years and personally enhanced relationships with five Sarasota Sister Cities.
2014 – Linda Rosenbluth
Former President & City Director for SCAS. Linda organized the first “phonathon” for United Way & Sarasota’s first “AIDS Awareness Week”.
2015 – Andrew Ezzell & JoAnn Patrick Ezzell
Give Something Back Foundation. SCAS Patron members, Andrew and JoAnn’s foundation built schools and classrooms in SE Asia and Haiti, and established an international online education program.
2016 – Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis
Co-founders of the Circus Arts Conservatory, Dolly and Pedro continue the circus tradition of performance & education programming, outreach programs serving children & elderly.
2017 – Dr. Mary Elmendorf
Internationally known anthropologist, Nobel Prize laureate.
2018 – Kate Alexander
Actress and Director at the Florida Studio Theater, Kate Alexander established the “Write-a-Play” program as part of the Young Playwrights Festival for our international Sister Cities students, and also established other educational programs at FST.
2020 - Maestro Victor DeRenzi - Led the Sarasota Opera, completed the Verdi Cycle - performed all of Giuseppi Verdi’s work, Verdi’s home is Busseto, our new Friendship city.
Organization Award Winners
2012 – The ORT Organization
Jewish global educational program.
Left to right: Marlies Gluck, Lynn Sacks, national ORT America President in 2012, John Halbert SCAS President in 2012
2013 – Sarasota Christian School
Promoted diversity and international relationships.
2014 – Embracing Our Differences
Poster art program on City Island park promoting diversity.
2017 – Sarasota Audubon Society
Environmental protection and education.
2018 – Second Chance-Last Opportunity
Empowerment program for the underserved in our community.
2020 - The Sarasota Opera
Completed the Verdi Cycle
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In 2012, ORT America received the prestigious "One World" award at the One World Gala sponsored by Sister Cities Association of Sarasota. The following was read at the gala by Bill Wallace: "How in this One World, could one even imagine trying to organize a program to educate annually 300,000 individuals across the globe Just ask ORT – it seems able to do anything – and it’s been doing it for over 130 years! And that’s why ORT was the very first organization chosen to receive the prestigious One World Award of the Sarasota Sister City Association at ceremonies at Michael’s One East on March 28, 2012.
"ORT Group" Left to right: Betty Greenspan, Bernice Goodman, Lynn Sacks, Kim Sheintal
ORT America president, Shelley Fagel from Chicago, Illinois, flew in to be present for the evening, and was invited to accept the award with local ORT chapter presidents Marlies Gluck-Upton and Lynn Sacks. Assisting with the arrangements was Andrew Polin, Associate Director, ORT America, Gulf Coast Region and local SSCA member and Tel Mond Vice City Director, Kim Sheintal. As ORT so ably professes, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” Incredibly, ORT currently educates and develops career skills for so many individuals daily in 55 countries across every inhabitable continent. Although it is the largest Jewish educational institution in the world, it educates both Jewish and non-Jewish children and adults. Since 1960, ORT has been invited to sponsor humanitarian programs in more than 100 countries, tailoring its curriculum to the needs of the student population in that country. ORT had its beginnings in Tsarist Russia in 1880 and today incorporates a focus on science and high-tech in addition to its other multiple course offerings. The Sarasota Sister Cities Association is privileged to present its first organizational One World Award to ORT."
Attached are two photos from the 2012 One World gala.