Executive Council

Noël Irwin Hentschel
Founder and President
An entrepreneur at the age of 24, Noël Irwin Hentschel is the Co-Founder, Chair/CEO of American Tours International (ATI). Through travel and tourism she has served millions of people and helped generate substantial economic development and job creation. Her commitment to America and the global community is expanded by her establishment of The Noel Foundation. She also serves as a volunteer hospital-hospice chaplain, helping the sick and dying and their families during time of need.

Jean Ariyoshi
Director, International Relations
As first lady of Hawaii from 1974-87 and leader in the Pacific Rim community for more than 20 years, Jean Ariyoshi is an influential international and domestic philanthropic figure. She established the First Lady's Volunteer Awards which annually recognize the state's outstanding volunteers and herself has been presented with the American Red Cross Clara Barton Award and many outstanding citizen awards.

Ambassador Kenneth Adelman
Ambassador Kenneth Adelman served as the U.S. deputy permanent representative to the United Nations from 1981-83. He also served as director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency from 1983-87, and was assistant to the Secretary of Defense in 1976-77. Ambassador Adelman's diverse governmental experience is bonded to his humanitarian spirit.

Keith Black M.D.
Neurosurgeon
TIME's Special Issue Heroes of Medicine
An internationally renowned neurosurgeon and scientist, Dr. Black joined Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in July 1997. Dr. Black pioneered research on designing ways to open the blood-brain barrier, enabling chemotherapeutic drugs to be delivered directly into the tumor. At age 17, he published his first scientific paper, which earned the Westinghouse Science Award. He completed an accelerated college program at University of Michigan, and earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees in six years. He is married to Dr. Carol Bennett, a distinguished urologist at UCLA.

The Honorable Esther Coopersmith
Experienced in governmental, political, charitable, and cultural activities, Esther Coopersmith has served in a myriad of capacities. An advisor to the Department of State for the Status of Women Commission of the United Nations and based in Washington D.C., she is an Advisory Board member of the Center for International development and Conflict Management. In 1982 she became the first woman since Eleanor Roosevelt to receive the United Nations Peace Prize.

Joyce Rey
As Prudential/Rodeo Realty's General Manager and Co-Founder, Ms. Rey is the enterprising force behind the division's phenomenal success and has established a renowned reputation. Named "Business Woman of the Year" by the Los Angeles Business Council in 1991, Ms. Rey is also a dedicated humanitarian.