Good friends
The ballroom at the Beverly Wilshire was overflowing with well-wishers there to honor uber-philanthropist Marilyn Ziering and renowned professor Gidi Rechavi at the Friends of Sheba Medical Center dinner March 18. Attendees watched a video chronicling Mordechai Shani Medical Visionary Award recipient Rechavi’s remarkable work at the center.
Rechavi heads the Sheba Cancer Center and specializes in pediatrics and general hematology. He also heads the Tel Aviv University Cancer Biology Center and holds the Shapiro chair for research in hematology malignancies. The department of pediatric oncology has become the major Israeli center for the treatment of childhood cancer under his leadership.
Ziering received a special tribute for her generosity and countless philanthropic endeavors. In 1976, she and her late husband, Sigi, supported the examining of every baby born in Israel for hypothyroidism. This vision and support of Sheba’s newborn screening program has saved more than 2,000 children in Israel from mental retardation. The new Sigi and Marilyn Ziering National Center for Newborn Screening will now test every baby born in Israel for 30 treatable genetic diseases, regardless of race or religion.
The evening’s host, comedian/writer/ activist Larry Miller, entertained the audience with a witty and hilarious stream of material that touched everyone’s funny bone. His abilities as a fundraiser were called into play when he inspired the audience to raise more than $50,000 in the live auction.
A varied and impressive guest list pointed out the place Sheba Medical Center holds in this community’s heart. Seen sipping wine, laughing and happy to be there were Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad and his wife, Lonnie; Vice Mayor Barry Brucker and his mother, Rita, and Max and Janet Salter.
Keeping the covenant
It was a preparty party when Covenant House California (CHC) celebrated its upcoming gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. More than 150 guests sipped mojitos and noshed on treats, while discussing whether fellow guest Andy Garcia looks like himself in person. When you look like that, who cares?
A highlight of the evening was a $10,000 check presentation of made by CHC board member Christophe Choo to CHC. Special guests included honorees Dean and Shannon Factor, Arizona Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx, the “Dance Doctor” John Cassese; and Escape Artists producers Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal.
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A generational thing
Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City was the venue when the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue Sisterhood hosted a boutique and luncheon aptly themed, “From Generation to Generation.”
The sisterhood honored three generations of the Silver family women, who for the last 40 years have devoted themselves to the shul and sisterhood. Honored were matriarch Min Silver, daughter Renee Borenstein, daughter-in-law Marilyn Silver and granddaughter Rachel Victor.
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