Lubner Family Foundation Celebrates Humanitarian Commitment

The Lubner Family Foundation is proud to sponsor the Bertie Lubner Humanitarian Award, an annual recognition of an individual or organisation whose dedication to helping others has achieved lasting impact. This award, named in honour of Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris, celebrates service guided by compassion, purpose, and action. At the heart of the Lubner Family Foundation's charitable work is the core value of responsible kindness, which combines compassion with thoughtful action and respect for human dignity.

The theme of this year's award, "Giving with Purpose – Impactful philanthropy with purposeful outcomes," aligns with Jewish values, particularly the concept of Tzedakah, which connects giving with justice and responsibility. This principle reminds us that helping others is an obligation grounded in our shared humanity, and every person deserves dignity, care, and the opportunity to flourish. The Jewish aspiration of tikkun olam, or repairing the world, gives direction to this responsibility.

The Bertie Lubner Humanitarian Award carries personal significance for the Lubner family, as it honours their late father, Bertie Lubner, and recognises Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris through a celebration of humanitarian commitment. Their names invite reflection on a central question in Jewish ethical life: how can we use what we have, and who we are, in the service of others? This inquiry is reinforced by the teaching in Pirkei Avot that we are not required to complete the work, yet are not free to abandon it.

Humanitarian service demands perseverance, as challenges are complex and results may take years to emerge. The Lubner family emphasises the importance of responsible kindness, which means respecting individual aspirations and creating opportunities for people to shape their own futures. This approach requires clear intentions, thoughtful stewardship, and a willingness to learn from those whose lives we seek to uplift.

The Lubner family's core community initiatives, including Afrika Tikkun, Smile Foundation, Sabrina Love Foundation, and Field Band Foundation, express these values across different areas of need. Their work reflects the belief that care, education, inclusion, and development can open pathways towards greater dignity and belonging. These initiatives demonstrate the family's commitment to giving with purpose and achieving impactful philanthropy.

The Lubner Family Foundation extends its heartfelt appreciation to every nominee for their sustained efforts, which embody compassion, integrity, service, inclusion, and accountability. The foundation's work is guided by Jewish tradition, which teaches the preciousness of every human life and calls us to extend our concern across communities, backgrounds, and beliefs.

The Bertie Lubner Humanitarian Award aims to celebrate achievement and inspire renewed commitment to humanitarian service. Through this award, the Lubner Family Foundation affirms a legacy expressed through action: accepting responsibility, pursuing justice, and helping others flourish. This is responsible kindness in practice, and the enduring spirit of giving with purpose that the foundation is proud to celebrate.

Key points

• The Lubner Family Foundation sponsors the Bertie Lubner Humanitarian Award to recognise sustained commitment to uplifting others.