A record of over $33 million was raised at the annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Western Region Gala, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursday. The event, chaired by Israeli-American businessman Haim Saban, brought together prominent figures from the business, entertainment, technology, sports and political communities. Top donations made at the event included $9 million from Larry Ellison, co-founder and chairman of Oracle Corporation, $5 million from Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, $5.2 million from brothers Maurice and Paul Marciano of Guess Jeans, $2 million from Steve Tisch, chairman and executive vice president of the New York Giants; $1 million from Leo David, founder of the Western Region of the FIDF; and $1.6 million from The Helmsley Charitable Trust. Also, Michael and Susan Dell gave $1.8 million to fund IMPACT! educational scholarship programs. Saban and his wife Cheryl donated $3.6 million. Gala attendees included Sylvester Stallone, Avi Lerner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barbra Streisand, Pamela Anderson, Noa Tishby and Ricky Martin, among numerous other well-known figures. "It is incredibly touching to see how advocacy for the FIDF has grown in Los Angeles," Saban said. "The caliber of Gala attendees from Hollywood, tech, business and other walks of life -- especially a large contingent of people without ties to Israel or Judaism -- ultimately speaks to their admiration for the heroic men and women of the IDF and the incredible work that the FIDF does to support them."
