Championing humanity
annual benefit gala instrumental in fostering ideas of tolerance, compassion
The Spirit of Hope Benefit gala, one of Toronto’s annual must-attend events for the city’s most influential business leaders, philanthropists, community and political leaders, will once again feature a celebrity-studded list of attendees. Firmly established as one the city’s most iconic fundraising events, it has featured luminaries including former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, former U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel and dozens of wellknown authors, journalists and politicians throughout the past several years.
“We have been very fortunate to be able to attract top-notch speakers,” says Paul Bronfman, co-chair of the 2012 event and a Spirit of Hope director. “I don’t know any other organization that could attract Bill Clinton and George Bush on the stage last year ... or Condoleezza Rice. Every year it just seems to get better and better.”
The Spirit of Hope tackles some of the most relevant issues of the day, such as globalization, human rights, freedom and democracy, the Middle East and international affairs. This year’s Benefit will also commemorate the tragic events at the Kosher supermarket in Paris. The event will also mark a tribute to the longstanding friendship between Canada’s Italian and Jewish communities and honour the service of Toronto police chief Bill Blair.
“The Spirit of Hope and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center are both trying to promote something that we can all get behind, which is human rights and tolerance,” says Jonathan Bloomberg, 2015 co-chair of the Spirit of Hope Benefit. “It is really about doing the right thing for everybody, everywhere. Unfortunately, there are tragic events happening in many parts of the world, and I think that with some work and dedication we can have a positive impact.”
The Spirit of Hope Benefit is the key fundraising event for the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC), which runs a series of programs and events to promote tolerance (see story below).
“It is not just about antiSemitism,” says Bronfman. “There is anti-Semitism directed at Jews, but it is also racial tolerance, inclusiveness and hate crime violence” that is tackled by the center. “It affects everybody.”
The Spirit of Hope Benefit is much more than just a gathering of the Who’s Who of Canada, notes Avi Benlolo, president and chief executive of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center.
“This event is the major source of funding for all our educational programs and workshops, including the Tour for Humanity initiative. The success we have experienced and the continued growth and popularity of the gala is truly remarkable, ”Benlolo notes.
Given the recent rise in acts of terrorism abroad and even at home in the nation’s capital, the Spirit of Hope’s message of tolerance is more relevant and needed than ever, notes Benlolo.
“Clearly, the rise of terror around the world is one of the most pressing issues facing democracies everywhere; ensuring our physical security while not overstepping our personal freedoms is a constant balancing act. I think the most important take-away is the need to educate children from a young age about tolerance and respect, and to teach them about the tragic consequences of hate, which, like ISIS, destroys everything in its path.
“We also need to do a better job of helping students develop a real appreciation for the values we hold most dear: freedom, democracy and human rights. This is what FSWC tries to do every single day.”
The good work that the center carries out on a daily basis has meant that there has been no shortage of prominent Canadians eager to lend their support to the organization.
“We all have our choices about where to spend our time and our resources and I am a huge believer in the work that is being done by the organization,” says Michael Bregman, a Spirit of Hope 2010 co-chair and current director of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center.
“You can’t assume that racism is gone or that women’s rights are no longer an issue. We always have to work to educate people and remind ourselves that this doesn’t come easily; it requires work.
“There are so many good causes out there, but I think that the education that is provided by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal for teachers, students across the province of Ontario, police officers, politicians and the like, is fantastic.”