Fed in Focus

Ben-Gurion Society’s
Let My People Laugh 3
a Big Hit in the Valley

Event co-chairs Cindy LeBauer,
Janet Heller, and Allison Kanter

On Saturday, June 7, the Ben-Gurion Society of The Jewish Federation Valley Alliance featured a night of a thousand laughs with comics Avi Liberman and John Mulrooney. Let My People Laugh 3 is the annual fundraiser for the Ben-Gurion Society, comprised of those between the ages of 25-45 who make minimum annual gifts of $1,000 to The Jewish Federation.

Following a cocktail reception and a breathtaking sunset at the stunning Oaks Estates home of Allison and Mark Kanter in Calabasas, the main event – chaired by the Kanters, Janet & Richard Heller, and Cindy LeBauer & Rick Rothman –- began. The program included a special video welcome by Federation Chairman Stanley Gold and a moving presentation made by various Valley Ben-Gurion Society donors stressing their own personal connections to the Federation.

Ben-Gurion Society co-chairs
Deborah Turobiner and Todd Gindy

Following the main video presentation, which also included interviews with recent visitors from Sderot who discussed the Federation’s vital support and offered their thanks, Janet Heller made an emotional and effective call to action. She highlighted the Federation’s support for a wide variety of programs, including its emergency aid to the citizens of Sderot, who “on a good day experience about 13 Qassam rockets.” (A bad day means about 60.) Surprised guests were jolted by a 15 second red-alert siren, which blared to emphasize the time residents of Sderot have to get themselves and their loved ones to safety once a Quassam rocket is picked up by satellite.

Significant dollars were raised at the event. About half of the couples in attendance made additional gifts on top of gifts they had already closed, and many doubled their 2007 gifts to the Federation.

After the key message of the evening was delivered, the fun commenced with comedian Liberman, who riffed on a number of subjects, while Mulrooney performed and kibitzed with guests.

The Ben-Gurion Society is a national movement created to get individuals involved with the Federation and motivate future leaders. It was conceived to bring together younger donors who make meaningful gifts to the Jewish community via the Federation and to offer them opportunities to attend exclusive events.

For more information on the Ben-Gurion Society of The Jewish Federation Valley Alliance, please contact Jonathan Boyer at (818) 464-3206 or JBoyer@JewishLA.org.