NEW YORK , December 2, 2002 … Thanks To Scandinavia, an institute of the American Jewish Committee, is launching an annual Fellowship For Bulgaria in recognition of the heroic deeds of the Bulgarian people in saving the Jewish community during World War II.

“Following on the footsteps of Bulgaria ’s entry into NATO, we are pleased to announce a new Fellowship For Bulgaria,” said Richard Netter, president of Thanks To Scandinavia.

The Fellowship For Bulgaria is a competitive program that offers future Bulgarian leaders firsthand experience into the workings of U.S. organizations, specifically in the areas of politics, management, public relations, and diplomacy.  Thanks To Scandinavia will be working with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry and Shalom—the Organization of Bulgarian Jews in selecting the annual Fellow.

Since its founding 40 years ago by the late entertainer Victor Borge and New York attorney Richard Netter, Thanks To Scandinavia has spearheaded the recognition of heroism and humanity of the people, churches, and governments of Scandinavian countries in saving many of their Jewish compatriots from the horrors of the Nazis.  The realization that it is possible for the righteous to stand against evil, TTS believes, must be publicized, recognized and preserved as a moral guidepost and standard of human behavior for all time.

This is the first time in its history that TTS is expanding its scholarship program beyond Scandinavia.

“Despite Nazi attempts at deportation, the entire 50,000-member Bulgarian Jewish community was spared from the Holocaust,” Netter said. “Ordinary Bulgarians lay across railroad tracks in order to physically prevent the deportation of Bulgarian Jews. This remarkable achievement deserves both gratitude and acknowledgment.”

The American Jewish Committee has been deeply involved with Bulgaria for well over a decade. Most recently, AJC Executive Director David Harris advocated, at a news conference in July in Washington and in an oped article published in Bulgaria and other countries, for Bulgaria , along with six other central and eastern European countries, to join NATO.

For further information about the Fellowship for Bulgaria contact Rebecca Neuwirth, Executive Director of Thanks To Scandinavia, at neuwirthr@ajc.org