PALM BEACH, FL – American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) held their annual Palm Beach Gala on
January 31 at The Breakers. Dianne & Abe Bernstein served as Co-chairs for the evening, which honored Palm Beach Friends Founder Jacqueline Goldman. Hannah & David Rabinowitz and Joy & Jerome Weinberger served as Honorary Chairs for the event. Professor Alan Dershowitz was the keynote speaker and talked about the Importance of Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel.

 

The evening began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Mediterranean Ballroom. From there, the more than 350 guests moved to the Venetian Ballroom for dinner and dancing to the music of The Marcia Mitchell Band.

 

During the evening, Jacqueline Goldman was presented with the 2010 AFMDA Leadership Award for her 60 years of dedication to MDA and the People of Israel. In addition, Dr. Yehuda Skornick, President of MDA in Israel, presented Mrs. Goldman with a key to all one hundred MDA Emergency Medical Stations.

Over $1 million was raised to complete the Palm Beach Friends of AFMDA 2010 special project, the renovation of the Nathan and Jacqueline Goldman Palm Beach Friends MDA Training Center in Israel. This state-of-the-art training facility will provide the important ongoing instruction needed to keep MDA’s famed first responders and personnel current with the latest techniques and equipment.

Gold Benefactors for the event were Jacqueline & the late Nathan Goldman, Sarita Gantz, Phyllis & the late Joseph Gurwin, Sandy & Bruce Hammonds, Mort Kahn and Joy & Hans Mueller; Silver Benefactors were Dianne & Abe Bernstein, Rhoda & David Chase and Barbara & Jack Kay.

 

During the evening, two ambulances were donated – one by Jack Kay and the Kay Family, in honor of his wife Barbara’s birthday, and one by Sidney Packer in honor of his wife Eleanor.

 

Advisory committee members were Alene Alper, Linda Benjamin, Linda Frankel, Lois Frieder, Bernice Friedman, Carole Gigliotti, Jacqueline Goldman, Phyllis Gurwin, Irene Karp, Barbara Kay, Fraeda Kopman, Susie Levitt, Elise Mesh, Sydelle Meyer, Sydell L. Miller, Sharon O’Neil, Ari Rifkin, Judy Ruttenberg and Robbi Toll.

 

Among those enjoying the evening were Bill Langfan & Joan Herman, Lois Pope, Ruth Sandler, Robin & Robert Berman, Barbara & Donald Wilson Bush, Alma Catsman, Annette & Jack Friedland, Jane & Leonard Korman, Barbara Mines, Susan & Jack Stoltz, Myrna & John Daniels, Elayne Flamm, Marilyn & Stanley Katz, Joan & Alan Safir, Jean & Fred Sharf, Selma & Joe Sitrick and Marlene & Harold Strauss.

 

American Friends of Magen David Adom supports the life saving efforts of Magen David Adom, Israel’s only government-mandated ambulance and emergency medical responders, providing medical, disaster, ambulance and blood services. 

 

For information on the Palm Beach Friends of AFMDA, call 835-0510.