Israel Bonds kicked off its year-long celebration of the organization’s storied tradition of leadership on Sunday, March 3 at the annual International Prime Minister’s Club Dinner, held at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida.


Evening emcees Women’s Division Chair Laura Orzy and National Campaign Advisory
Council Chair Ken Goldberg In praising Bonds leadership, President & CEO Israel Maimon declared, “Since 1951, the Bonds enterprise has been blessed with extraordinary lay leaders, from the founders who attended Ben-Gurion’s historic conference to many of you in the room tonight.”
 
Nine honorees from the U.S., Canada and Mexico were presented with the first annual Shimon Peres Leadership Award, and among those applauding their achievements was the late president’s granddaughter, Israeli author, journalist and producer Mika Almog. She cited Peres’ forward-looking vision in telling the honorees, “You, too, are made of the future.” 


Mika Almog, granddaughter of Shimon Peres, speaks passionately of his vision

Also speaking was Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, who, in referencing Israel’s recent lunar landing craft launch, said, “Israel Bonds has been our booster rocket, helping to fuel Israel’s remarkable rise among the nations.”


Ambassador Ron Dermer expresses appreciation for Israel Bonds
 
Among those applauding the honorees were Mark Regev, Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom who also spoke at Shabbat dinner, and, from the Finance Ministry, Director General Shai Babad, Accountant General Rony Hizkiyahu, and Director of Global Debt/Capital Markets Gil Cohen.


A gala performance concludes the evening

The weekend also featured the traditional Saturday night New Leadership Blue & White Party.
 
Recipients of the Shimon Peres Leadership Award were:

 
Naomi Adler, Philadelphia, PA


Lily & Jack Bitton, Toronto, ON


Ruth & Joe Bitton, Toronto, ON


Bobbie & Marty Goldstein, Rockland, NY


Lori & Robert Goodman, Beverly Hills, CA


Carol & Dr. Robert Keehn, Baltimore, MD


Wendy & Matthew H. Maschler, Boca Raton, FL


Deborah & Jaime Schmidt, Mexico City, MX


Michal & Steven Soclof, Cleveland, OH

To watch the honoree tribute video, click here
To watch Celebrating a Tradition of Leadership, click here

All photos courtesy of Peter Halmagyi