A surprise birthday celebration for Frank Lowy
October 7, 2021 by Henry Benjamin
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Frank Lowy has been feted by two of his favourite organisations, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Orr Shalom on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
Frank Lowy [centre] with his hosts. Aliza Olmert is in the grey dress Photo: Orr Shalom
The surprise party for the former Sydneysider and co-founder of shopping centre giant Westfield featured a video combining the two organisations with the IPO performing at Shalom Orr homes.
He now resides in Israel.
Orr Shalom is a non-profit organization in the field of children and youth at-risk. With nearly 40 years of award-winning experience and proven capability, Orr Shalom cares for 1,400 children who have been removed from their homes following severe abuse and neglect.
On their website Orr Shalom states it “provides our children with professional help, warm and loving homes, and an opportunity for a better future. In addition we manage an ever-expanding graduate community, providing assistance to our graduates to ensure that they become contributing members of Israeli society.”
The late Lady Shirley Lowy was known by the children as Savta Shirley.
The Jerusalem Post reports that the Lowys were introduced to Orr Shalom by Aliza Olmert, wife of former Prime Minister Ehul Olmert and they were enchanted by the children and the care being meted out to them. Frank Lowy continues to visit Orr Shalom homes bringing gifts to the children.
Frank Lowy told J-Wire: “It was a wonderful surprise, and honour, to be acknowledged by these organisations for my 90th birthday. Both are very close to my heart, and both are very important to the fabric of Israeli society.Orr Shalom was something that my beloved late wife Shirley and I loved to be involved with. We could see our support making a real difference for kids who now had a chance to escape a pretty dismal past and get a better start in life.
And music, of course, has always been a big part of my life.
I’ve supported the Sydney Symphony for many years, and in fact Shirley and I spent many of our very first outings at youth orchestra performances at the Sydney Town Hall even before we were married. So to continue my support for music here in Israel with the Philharmonic gives me a lot of pleasure and pride.”
