Central Region Celebrates 30 Years at the 24th Annual Dinner
FIDF Central Region raised more than $1.6 million in support of Israel’s soldiers
The Central Region Chapter of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, held its Annual Dinner on Monday, September 26 at the Hilton Chicago, celebrating 30 years of visionary leadership and dedication to the IDF.
The Annual Dinner is the Central Region’s largest annual event, this year including nearly 1,000 community leaders in attendance. Special guests included Honorary Dinner Chair Lester Crown, Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, US Congressman Robert J. Dold, Israel’s Consul General to the Midwest Orly Gil, visiting IDF Attachés from Washington DC and IDF soldiers from Israel. Hub Arkush, Publisher/Editor, Pro Football Weekly and NFL Analyst emceed the event as guests enjoyed a three course dinner as they joined in congratulating the Central Region’s past Chairs for their visionary leadership over the last 30 years; witnessed an emotional speech and musical performance by musician and former Israeli Tank Commander Ron Weinreich, who was wounded in the Second Lebanon War, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down and his band SIREN; and sat captivated by keynote speaker Lieutenant General (retired) H. Steven Blum who expressed his support for the partnership between the United States and Israel.
Front Row From Left: Nily Falic, FIDF National Chairman, Jeanne Randall Malkin, Gerald Mizel, Mark Schneider, Second Row Third From Left: Dan Stern, Maurice Sanderman, Howard Stone, Barry Rosenthal, Caryn Rosen Adelman Third Row Second from Right: Al Frank with several IDF
Combat Soldiers and Attaches from Washington DC
This year’s honorees include (in order of Chairmanship): Howard Stone - Chicago, Larry J. Hochberg - Northbrook, Gerald Mizel - Northfield,
Jeanne Randall Malkin - Chicago, Cary Rosen Adelman - Winnetka, Barry Rosenthal - Highland Park, Daniel Stern - Highland Park, Al Frank - Chicago, Mark Schneider - Highland Park, Lester Crown, Honorary Chair and Nily Falic, FIDF National Chairman
For the first time ever, FIDF Central Region used Text-to-Pledge, a special program which enables donors to send a text message commitment to support the soldiers. With additional fundraising, FIDF supporters raised more than $1.6 million, making this year’s Annual Dinner one of the Central Region’s best. Through these efforts, FIDF strengthens the bond between communities in America, the soldiers of the IDF, and the State of Israel.
Annual Dinner Co-Chair Daniel J. Hyman proclaimed the night to be “a celebration of these generous donors and also, of course, of the soldiers whom they support.” Keeping the soldiers in the spotlight of the organization, Jorde M. Nathan, Annual Dinner Co-Chair, added that the Dinner “was another successful effort by the Central Region, however our mission is not yet complete. Now more than ever, there’s a need to lend support to Israeli troops.”
Photo of FIDF Annual Dinner
FIDF Annual Dinner Key Note Speaker
Jorde M Nathan and Daniel J. Hyman, Annual Dinner Co-Chairs with
IDF Soldiers
FIDF Annual Dinner Speaker and Musical Artist
Back to Central Region