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BEVERLY HILLS,
Calif., Nov. 2 –
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) raised $60
million at its annual Western Region Gala on Thursday, Nov.
1, held at the landmark Beverly Hilton Hotel. The figure
represents the most money raised at any single FIDF event in the
organization’s history. The sold-out gala, which has become one
of Los Angeles’ premier charitable events, united over 1,200
supporters from across the country to support the brave men and
women of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
For the 12th year,
FIDF National Board Member and major supporter Haim Saban and
his wife, Cheryl, chaired the star-studded gala. Guests
included prominent business, philanthropic, and political
leaders and celebrated names in entertainment, fashion, sports,
and technology, including Ashton
Kutcher; Pharrell Williams; Gerard Butler; Andy Garcia; Fran
Drescher; Ziggy Marley; David Foster; Katharine
McPhee; David Draiman; A. C. Green; Ralph Sampson; Robert Horry;
Josh Flag; Israeli actress and star of hit Netflix show Fauda Rona-Lee
Shim'on;
Israeli actor Yaakov
Zada Daniel, also
of Fauda and an FIDF IMPACT! scholarship recipient; Consul
General of Israel in Los Angeles Sam Grundwerg; business
magnates and philanthropists Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G.
Adelson, Serge Azria and Florence Azria; Managing
Member of R.H. Book LLC and Chairman of Jet Support Services
Inc. Robert Book and his wife, Amy; Founder and
President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and his wife, Joelle; GUESS
Founders Maurice and Paul Marciano; FIDF National
Chairman Rabbi Peter Weintraub; FIDF National President Robert
Cohen; FIDF
National Board Member and Western Region President Tony Rubinand
his wife, Linda; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen.
(Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; and FIDF Western Region
Executive Director Jenna Griffin.
“We
are thrilled that so many members of our community, including
major Hollywood figures, are coming together to help us support
the brave men and women of the IDF,” said Haim Saban. “Cheryl
and I are extremely proud to chair this event for the 12th year,
and to be part of this incredible organization that inspires
more and more supporters and contributions every year.”
The top donations
announced at the event were $10 million from Dr. Miriam and
Sheldon G. Adelson and $10 million from Haim and Cheryl Saban.
Rabbi Eckstein, who
has contributed more than $45 million to FIDF in the last few
years, donated $5 million at the gala. “We
are so deeply grateful to FIDF for the commendable support they
provide the real heroes of Israel, the men and women on the
front lines, and The Fellowship is proud to be their partner in
this vital mission.”
The event featured
a special performance by Pharrell Williams. Presiding as
the evening’s master of ceremonies was Staff Sgt. (Res.) Izzy
Ezagui, an American who moved to Israel, became a decorated
squad commander in the IDF, and returned to the battlefield
after losing an arm in combat.
The gala presented
a moving program, which told the 70-year history of Israel
through the eyes of its heroes, including the multigenerational
story of the Duvdevani family, whose members are commended for
their heroic actions protecting Israel. The experiences of the
IDF’s paramedics – the heroes behind the heroes – were shared
through the stories of Staff Sgt. Yotam, a paramedic in
the Paratroopers’ Brigade, who helped an American soldier in
need of critical medical treatment during Operation Swift
Response, an international exercise in Poland; Staff Sgt. Erez,
who served as a combat medic in the “Egoz” unit of the Golani
Brigade during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge, and supported
his unit in the Shuja’iyeh neighborhood of Gaza, arriving at the
scene under heavy fire and saving the life of his severely
injured commander; and Lt. Noam, a paramedic in the
Armored Corps who attempted to perform resuscitation on a
critically wounded soldier during Operation Protective Edge,
despite his low chances of survival.
Finally, guests
celebrated the triumph of the human spirit as Col. Shai
Siman-Tov, who was critically wounded during Operation
Protective Edge, shared his story. His injuries left him
paralyzed and in need of a wheelchair; however, undeterred by
his injury, Shai returned to the IDF and is now a team leader at
the Tactical Command College. In 2017, he was promoted to the
rank of Colonel.
Funds raised at the
gala will provide much-needed and well-deserved services such as
academic scholarships to combat veterans, financial assistance
for soldiers in-need, support for Lone Soldiers throughout their
service and upon release, crucial aid for wounded veterans and
the families of fallen soldiers, weeks of rest and recuperation
for entire IDF units, as well as educational, cultural, and
recreational facilities. The evening presented a rare and
exclusive opportunity to pay tribute to the state of Israel and
its brave men and women in uniform.
About Friends of
the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF):
FIDF was
established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a
501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission of
offering educational, cultural, recreational, and social
programs and facilities that provide hope, purpose, and
life-changing support for the soldiers who protect Israel and
Jews worldwide. Today, FIDF has more than 150,000 loyal
supporters, and 20 chapters throughout the United States and
Panama. FIDF proudly supports IDF soldiers, families of fallen
soldiers, and wounded veterans through a variety of innovative
programs that reinforce the vital bond between the communities
in the United States, the soldiers of the IDF, and the state of
Israel. For more information, please visit: www.fidf.org.
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