Jewish Care annual appeal dinner attracts over 400
Jewish Care Victoria has hosted over 420 supporters at its 2016 Annual Appeal Dinner.
Guests enjoyed an evening of heartfelt personal stories, musical entertainment and emotive videos, with Annual Appeal Committee Member Georgia Danos acting as Master of Ceremonies.
Georgia Danos, Hilary Cohen, Melissa Davis, Toni Joel, Andrew Blode
Manders Villas’ resident, Tamara Henschel was the guest speaker for the evening. She provided a poignant account of living with an Acquired Brain Injury and the positive experience she has had residing at the Independent Living accommodation in Caulfield.
“As I reached my thirties, I desperately wanted to move out of home and live independently – The Manders Villas and Jewish Care have given me that opportunity, “ Tamara said. “As The Manders Villas was built and funded by the incredible support of our Jewish community for our Jewish community, I’m now living and interacting with other Jewish people in a way I never had the opportunity to before.”
The room was treated to a unique multicultural and diverse musical performance by four longstanding Gary Smorgon House Lifestyle and Personal Care staff, from
Tamara Henschel
Uzbekistan, India, South Sudan and Zimbabwe. Vera, a Lifestyle Worker at Jewish Care for 16 years played the piano, while Lini and Sonia (a Personal Care Worker for 15 years at Jewish Care) sang beautiful renditions of the Yiddish folk song, Oyfn Pripetshik and Israeli folk song, Hava Nagila. Tino stole the show with his self-penned rap about Jewish Care which had everybody singing along to the catchy chorus.
Videos shown included the 2016 Annual Appeal video, ‘The Butterfly Effect’, which captures this year’s campaign theme – ‘Jewish Care. For our community. Every day’. The emotional video features four real client scenarios that highlight how critical it is to have an organisation like Jewish Care for the community to turn to when life takes a turn for the worse.
Other lighthearted short films shown included ‘A Bissel of Food’, where aged care
Tino Nakirwa, Sonia Amin, Lini Mathew, Vera Yavlinsky
residents were interviewed about Jewish cuisine, and a humorous video featuring David Southwick MP, Jewish Care CEO Bill Appleby, Life Governor Andrew Blode and comedian Joshua Glance singing to classic songs on their journey to the Annual Appeal Dinner.
Jewish Care President, Mike Debinski stated how Jewish Care had provided care and support to over 5000 people in the community over the past year: “These may sound like a list of numbers, but each one is a life, and as our Jewish tradition tells us, each life is a world – each world reliant upon your support, every day.”
Annual Appeal Committee Member, Toni Joel made the final address, urging supporters to help Jewish Care reach its $3.6 million target for its many programs and services that receive little or no government funding. She encouraged the audience to share their stories of philanthropy with their children and grandchildren, to inspire them and future generations; and to consider the ‘butterfly effect’ – how one gift can have immeasurable change elsewhere.
To donate to the 2016 Annual Appeal, contact 1800 JEWISH (1800 539 474) or donate online at jewishcare.org.au/donate
