Community
Jewish Care’s clients were 'stars of the show' at annual fundraising dinner
A series of films were shown throughout the event about the work of the organisation
June 25, 2019 13:49
A series of films were shown throughout the event about the work of the organisation
June 25, 2019 13:49Sky’s Gillian Joseph presented a night of news and stories at this year’s Jewish Care annual fundraising dinner, which raised £5.2 million.
Ms Joseph introduced a series of pre-recorded broadcasts throughout the evening, which shone a light on the work of the organisation and the stories of some of its clients.
Jewish Care said the aim was to make its clients "the real stars of the show" and invited over 20 to the dinner. Many of them featured in a series of films shown throughout the evening, in which they were interviewed by Ms Joseph about what the charity has done for them.
Broadcaster Dermot O’Leary, best known for hosting ITV’s X Factor, presented a film about Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors' Centre (HSC).
He filmed the video earlier this year when he visited to centre to celebrate its 25th birthday.
In the film he met Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert, who on the night came holding pictures of the two together.
Following the visit he posted photos on his social media account and commented: “Had the most incredible visit to the Holocaust Survivors' Centre. Laughed, learned, listened, and ate (so much to fress) with the most wise, proud, playful bunch of people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for some time. And did my parents kvell when they saw these pictures.”
The 1,000 guests were welcomed to the Great Room at the Grosvenor House Hotel by roving reporter and Jewish Care dinner chair, Nicola Loftus.
In one film Ms Loftus visited Redbridge Jewish Community Centre where she reported on the organisation's day care and outreach work, from its community centres to meals on wheels and befriending for the growing numbers of people living alone who struggle to get out of their own homes.
She explained in the video: “When people are too frail to see us we make sure we get to see them. Ninety per cent of the people who use our outreach services live alone and sadly that number continues to grow”.
In another powerful film, Ruth told the guests how a phone call to Jewish Care after her husband Leslie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and later dementia, had helped the family.
"When things started getting bad, I thought I have got to speak to someone, so I contacted Jewish Care, they were really marvellous," she said.
"It was a sense of relief to feel someone understood”.
Leslie now lives at Vi & John Rubens House, where his wife visits every day.
She said: “I thought he might think I don’t want him any more and it wasn’t the case. I love him more for how he is now because he needs me more. I don’t think I would be able to manage without Jewish Care. They care about you and your loved ones”.
