11 October 2004 The first presentation of specially minted medals to members of World ORTs elite group of major donors, The 1880 Society, has been reported in one of the Jewish worlds most prestigious weekly newspapers, The Jewish Chronicle. Accompanying the story in the current issue of the London-based newspaper was a colour photograph of the four recipients: World ORT President Sir Maurice Hatter, Deputy President Dr Jean de Gunzburg, World ORT Board of Directors Chairman Robert Sill and World ORT Executive Committee Chairman Mauricio Merikanskas. Jewish Chronicle article, 8 October 2004. Reproduced with permission of the Jewish Chronicle. The 1880 Society commemorates the year that ORT was founded in St Petersburg by Nikolai Bakst, Samuel Poliakov and Baron Horace de Gunzburg the latter being the great-great uncle of the current Deputy President Dr de Gunzburg. Now, just months away from its 125th anniversary, ORT is the worlds largest Jewish education and vocational training non-profit organisation with nearly 300,000 beneficiaries every year in some 60 countries. To join The 1880 Society at a bronze medal level, donors must commit themselves to giving at least $100,000 to ORT over three consecutive years. Those donating $250,000 receive a silver medal while $500,000 confers life membership and a solid gold medal.