Page 3 - TheBlueCardJournal2013

Dear Friends,

We welcome you tonight to The Blue Card’s 2013 Annual Beneft Gala at the landmark American Museum of Natural History. It gives us great pride to have you with us celebrating 79 years of providing aid to victims of Nazi persecution. Since its inception in Germany in 1934, The Blue Card has distributed more than $24 million to tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors.

Today, The Blue Card remains the only organization whose sole mission is to help needy Holocaust survivors with direct fnancial assistance. We look not only at their past, but to their future.

As survivors age, their needs for emergency cash assistance, telephone emergency response systems, medical, dental and home care increase. The Blue Card is more committed than ever to providing innovative solutions that address the dire circumstances faced by this already fragile group. As a result of the incessant stress and extreme nutritional deprivation that had to be endured, the Holocaust survivors we serve experience a higher incidence of debilitating conditions such as cancer, heart disease, isolation, depression, and decreased mobility.

While we acknowledge The Blue Card’s success in reaching many of its goals, there is still much work to do. As we refect upon our accomplishments, The Blue Card salutes the achievements of this year's inspiring honorees: Mia and Ronan Farrow, the Curt C. and Else Silberman Foundation, and our frst Young Leadership award recipient, Sara Greenberg.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your commitment and dedication to preserving the care and dignity of those individuals who have already suffered so much.

The Blue Card would also like to express our deepest gratitude to Rita Cosby and Regina Spektor for their immeasurable contributions to a most memorable evening.

Masha Pearl

Executive Director

Gia Machlin

Chairman

Mark Bilski

Co-President

Mimi Lieber

Co-President