GALA 2010- DEB MCGRATH AND COLIN MOCHRIE MAKE THE CROWD ROAR, JACKIE RICHARDSON SOARS

Comedic stars Deb McGrath and Colin Mochrie led a captivated audience through a remarkable line-up of internationally acclaimed Canadian artists in support of a small but compelling downtown school. The celebrity couple and the stellar performers lent their talents as Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School paid tribute to Dr. Larry Librach.

Dr. Librach is Director of the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Hospital. He is an internationally recognized advocate for quality end-of-life patient care and for his professional commitment and achievement to the field of hospice palliative care. According to Board President Mike Harris, “Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School is privileged to have in Dr. Librach such a poignant example of leadership and conviction to bettering our world.”

The show took place Monday night at the Al Green Theatre in the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. It was the seventh annual tribute gala held by the school, whose impressive and multi-talented community contribute their time and creativity each year to raise much-needed funds for student subsidies.

The impressive array of performers included acclaimed world music group Jaffa Road, Grand Prize winner in the John Lennon Song Writing contest, Eleven-year-old piano prodigy Yike (Tony) Yang, first prize winner of the 2009 National Canadian Music Competition, comedian Linda Kash, well known as The Philadelphia Cream Cheese Angel, a surprise appearance by the group of women Kash is directing in the upcoming performance of PUSH...One Mother of a Show, and. the swinging harmonies of the Jazzabelles. A personal video message from Andy Barrie, who also attended the show, highlighted Dr. Librach’s exceptional contributions to his field of medicine. The show was brought to a stirring yet elating close by Jackie Richardson, one of Canada's foremost singers of gospel, blues and jazz. The diverse group of talent brought powerful and extremely well-received performances to the evening’s extraordinary slate.
Gala co-chairs Aviva Rajsky and Jodi Tanenbaum were delighted with the event’s success and by how well-received the gala was by the community.

As a non-profit organization, fundraising is critical to the on-going success of the school. Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School is unique not only in its downtown location but also in its pluralistic, egalitarian and multi-faceted approach to Jewish day school education. Through a rich academic and arts enhanced curriculum and active commitment to social justice, the SK to Grade 8 students are primed to make significant, meaningful contributions to the diverse Canadian community, today and in the future.

The annual Tribute Gala is made possible thanks to the volunteer efforts of the production staff, most of whom are school parents, and through the generosity of the artists toward the school. The show was directed by Alisa Palmer, award-winning Canadian playwright and director, and co-produced by Danny Greenspoon, multi-platinum award winning record producer, Aviva Rajsky and Jodi Tanenbaum. Casting Directors are Sherry Dayton, partner in Dayton/Walters Casting, Diane Flacks, actor and writer, and Vivienne Kugler, PR manager.

Former Gala Honourees are Dr. Zane Cohen, Dr. Anne Golden, Dr. Lou Siminovitch, Jack Rabinovitch, David Green and Harold Nashman.

Media contact:
Sheri Rapp
email: sheri@djds.ca