Tamara Karu, Palm Beach County Director                     AFMDA PALM BEACH FRIENDS

Email: tkaru@afmda.org                                                3300 PGA Blvd. Suite 510

                                                                  Palm Beach Gardens, 33410 

                                                                  Tel:  (561)835-0510

EVENTS

EVENT PHOTOS

The residents of Boca Pointe dedicates its second community ambulance.  The first one was dedicated just nine months ago.  There more ambulances are being dedicated by individual Boca Pointe residents in February and March in 2012. 

A crowd gathered at the JARC on the campus of the South Palm Beach Jewish Federation in Boca to celebrate an ambulance being dedicated by Judy Levis Markhoff in memory of her parents Adolph and Rose Levis.   Mrs. Markhoff, who is a prominent philanthropist in the community, expressed her joy in remembering her parents with the gift of an ambulance which will help save lives in Israel.  Her parents were totally committed for the well-being of the Jewish State.  From left to right are Paul and Judy Levis Markhoff, and Alex, Sam and Mathew Baker.

St. Andrews Friends filled the Clubhouse at their annual event.  In the past 16 years, the community has donated 96 ambulances. During the evening, co-chair Ina Rae Fox announced that Gertrude Jaffee has donated number 97 in memory of her late husband Woodrow Jaffee. “The welfare of Israel is very dear to me,” said Mrs. Jaffee.  “My family wanted to do something special in loving memory of Woodrow and this was the ideal thing and what he would love very much.”

Fox also had the opportunity to present her grandson, Brian Fox, with a monogrammed Red Bag of Courage.  Brian raised $1,000 for his Red Bag Mitzvah Project, which is the cost of a new, fully-loaded bag to be used by the courageous First Responders of MDA.  As a thank you, a personalized bag, identical to the one used in Israel, was given to him.

The 2011 Palm Beach Gala Major Donor Reception was held at the home of Becky and Jimmy Mayer.

The annual Palm Beach Gala was held on February 7 at The Breakers. Marilyn and Stanley Katz and Barbara and Jack Kay served as Co-chairs for the evening, which honored Sydelle Meyer with the 2011 AFMDA Humanitarian Award.  Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, was the keynote speaker and spoke about the current concerns pertaining to the Middle East, particularly, the Egyptian situation. Monies raised will help complete the new MDA Station in Holon which is the latest project sponsored by Palm Beach Friends.

Hundreds of the Boca Pointe community residents gathered to celebrate an ambulance which bears their community name on the doors.  Chairman Burt Goodman started the Boca Pointe Chapter five years ago and since its inception, the group has donated a room in the Arad Emergency Medical Station and 6 ambulances, making this their seventh. Below are Burt Goodman and former ambulance donors William & Burniece Goldetsky, David Ohayon, Judy Levin, Alvin & Barbara Doppelt, Lynn & Bill Bragin, and Leonard & Audrey Goodfriend.

Bart and Shirley Weisman and Family donated an ambulance to the people of Israel.  Below are Shirley Weisman (fourth from left) and her family.

Lois and Dick Frieder's granddaughters Jessica Frieder (top left) and Alison Frieder (top right) and their friends Jacqui Stevens (top middle) and Janie Smukler (bottom) from Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ, sold latkes to raise funds for Palm Beach Friends of AFMDA.  They were inspired after seeing the heroic resue efforts of Magen David Adom during the Carmel Fires.

Admirals Cove Desert Reception

Co-hosts Ben and Linda Frankel, Palm Beach Friends Founder Jacqueline Goldman, and co-hosts Lois and Dick Frieder at AFMDA's first dessert reception and briefing at the Clubhouse at Admirals Cove.  CEO Arnold Gerson enlightened guests about the lifesaving work of MDA in Israel and the heroes that enable MDA to answer every call, and Presidential Scholar Dr. Robert Watson spoke about the Champions of Israel in the White House. 

Palm Beach Mission to Israel May 21 - 29

Dianne and Abe Bernstein, Palm Beach Friends 2010 Gala Chairs, led a mission to show the importance of MDA to a leadership group who will be helping AFMDA continue to fund important projects.  They also got a chance to tour Israel and meet with key Israeli leaders.

(back row) Judy Dobin, Leslie Goldberg, Robin Berman, Dianne Bernstein, Alan Goldberg, Dan Dobin, (front row) Edward Neustadter, Bob Berman, Abe Bernstein, and Sandra Neustadter stand in front of the Afula Station which was remodeled by Palm Beach Friends in 2006.  Not shown that were on the trip are Carole and Chris Gigliotti, Adina Sher, and Palm Beach County Director David Schafer.

Yoni Yagodovsky, MDA International Department Director, explains the Dispatch Center Operation.

Professor Eilat Shinar, Director of the MDA National Blood Services Center in Ramat Gan, explains the importance of the blood services to the people of Israel.

Robin and Bob Berman sit in a Mobile Intensive Care Unit like the one they recently donated.

Racheli Platt Raises Funds for the Red Bag Of Courage Mitzvah Project for Her Bat Mitzvah

"I chose this project because I know how important the Red Cross is in America and my rabbi, Michael Resnick of Temple Emanu-el of Palm Beach, told me about Magen David Adom, the "Red Cross" in Israel.  I like to help people and thought it would be a great idea if I could raise money for MDA. I have also figured out in life you must give back not only take in. At my bat mitzvah, I recognized this organization and told everyone about it. My family and friends donated to the cause and as a result I received $3,000 and donated it to AFMDA.  I hope they use this money well and save many many more lives." 

St. Andrews Celebrates 70 Years of AFMDA

Members and guests of St. Andrews Friends of AFMDA enjoyed a fun-filled evening of cocktails, dinner, and a Musical Review Through The Decades to celebrate AFMDA’s 70 year proud legacy of service to Israel.  Shown above are President Neil and Ina Rae Fox, co-chairs, and Myrna Keisman. Before the event, Leslie , Kenny, Gris, Tyler, Maria Teresa, George and Sarah Rudes dedicated an ambulance, which on May 31 was a part of the delivery of twin girls in Ashdodi.  This is the 94th ambulance donated by the community of St. Andrews, which is more than any other community in the world!

Phyllis Gurwin and Honoree Jacqueline Goldman and Co-Chairs Dianne and Abe Bernstein at the kickoff event for the Palm Beach Friends of AFMDA's Annual Gala.  Photos by Lucien Capehart Photogragraphy.

2010 Palm Beach Gala Honored Jacqueline Goldman for her 60 years of dedication to MDA

Dianne and Abe Bernstein were Co-chairs for the evening and Hannah and David Rabinowitz and Joy and Jerome Weinberger were Honorary Chairs.  World renowned lawyer Alan Dershowitz was the keynote speaker.