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NEW YORK -
The Blue Card, a national nonprofit organization
dedicated to aiding Holocaust survivors, hosted its annual
benefit gala on Monday, November 21, 2016, at Jazz At
Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall. The event was
hosted by Tony Nominee and Emmy and Golden Globe
Award-Winning Actor Tony Shalhoub.
This year's benefit featured a cocktail reception, seated
dinner, and
performances by Broadway,
television and
film star Linda Lavin and the
cast of the upcoming Broadway play 'Indecent' by Pulitzer
Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel.
The evening included the presentation of awards to
individuals dedicated to supporting the needs of Holocaust
survivors and advancing human rights worldwide. This year,
The Richard C. Holbrooke Award for Social Justice was given
to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. The Blue Card also
presented the Irene Hizme Tikkun Olam Award to Brooke
Goldstein, Human Rights Lawyer and Founder of the Lawfare
Project.
Additional honorees included: New York City Council; Leo
Rechter, Founder and President of The National Association
of Jewish Child Holocaust Survivors (NAHOS), who received
the Max L. Heine Humanitarian Award; and Broadway, film and
television actor Mimi Lieber, The Blue Card President
Emeritus.
"The Blue Card is proud to recognize Senator Schumer, Brooke
Goldstein, the New York City Council, Mimi Lieber and Leo
Rechter, for their dedication to raising awareness of the
current plight of Holocaust survivors in the United States
who are so critically in need of financial assistance," said
Masha Pearl, Executive Director of The Blue Card. "For those
individuals that survived the atrocities of the Holocaust,
many are struggling to make ends meet in the face of a
growing number of medical issues, the rising cost of living
and challenges navigating the health systems. The mission of
The Blue Card, to help survivors live their remaining years
in dignity, is incredibly time-sensitive as at least 50
percent of Holocaust survivors alive today will pass away
within the next 10 to 20 years. We greatly appreciate the
work of this year's honorees, and are looking to the larger
community to help spread awareness about those still in
need.
The Blue Card's 2015 Annual Benefit Gala
honored Nobel Peace Prize laureate, human rights activist
and Holocaust survivor the late Elie Wiesel, and was
presented by Academy Award winner Michael Douglas and author
and journalist Kati Marton. Past event attendees and
honorees have included Mia Farrow and Ronan Farrow,
Ambassador Emeritus Thomas Pickering, philanthropists Zach
Lonstein and Shoshanna Lonstein, former New York City mayor
Ed Koch, musician Regina Spektor, journalist Jonathan Alter,
and actors Danny Aiello, Cynthia Nixon and David Hyde
Pierce.
About The Blue Card
The mission of The Blue Card is to provide direct financial
assistance, with utmost respect and ever mindful of their
dignity, to needy Holocaust survivors in the United States.
Financial assistance is available on a monthly basis for
most basic needs, as well as for emergencies, such as
medical and dental care, special equipment, rent and utility
shut offs, along with many other programs. Founded in
Germany in 1934, and reestablished in the United States in
1939, The Blue Card has distributed nearly $30 million to
Holocaust survivors date with 100% of annual contributions
made by individuals going directly to survivors. The Blue
Card is Better Business Bureau (BBB) certified. Furthermore,
The Blue Card has received a Four Star Rating from Charity
Navigator. Finally, The Independent Charities of America
(ICA) recognized The Blue Card with its Best in America Seal
of Excellence, a merit that has been awarded to fewer than
1,000 of the 1,000,000 charities that are a part of ICA.
For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.BlueCardFund.org. |