NEW YORK (VINnews) – It will be an evening of gratitude on June 15th, as hundreds are expected to gather in Lower Manhattan to show their support for United Hatazlah, which continues to remain at the forefront of emergency care in Israel even as the conflict with Iran rages on.

This year has been United Hatzalah’s busiest, with the nonprofit’s 8,600 active volunteers responding to 750,000 emergencies at all hours of the day and night, with an average response time of less than three minutes.

“We’ve had so many missile attacks from Iran and Hezbollah and there has been a constant need for support, both medical and emotional,” United Hatzalah president and founder Eli Beer told VIN News.

Beer noted that United Hatzalah is prepared for the next escalation in attacks, making the need for donations more critical than ever.

“We need people to remember that Israel, which is subjected to constant threats, is part of all of us,” said Beer. “In addition to the duty each one of us has to support our own communities, we also have a duty to support Israel.”

The annual New York gala will be an evening of gratitude for those who have shown exceptional commitment to Israel. Former Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer will be recognized with the Hero of Israel award in recognition of his tireless efforts which included the return of all of the October 7th hostages.

“He deserves a big yasher koach for bringing them home,” observed Beer.

Also being honored is comedian Modi Rosenfeld, who will be presented with the Beacon of Joy award, for infusing people’s lives with hope and positivity during incredibly difficult times. The Israeli-born Modi recently made headlines for pulling out of a planned appearance at the hip Downtown Seder after learning that Mayor Zohran Mamdani would be in attendance.

“He is someone who gave chizuk to am Yisrael,” explained Beer. “He made us understand that we need to laugh to recover and he is always talking about Moshiach, achdus in am Yisrael and love for every Jew.”

The program for the New York gala includes a conversation between Dermer and Blackstone’s David Blitzer, as well as an appearance by former hostage Bar Kupershtein. The evening’s young leadership co-chairs Brandon and Casey Lutnick are sons of the current United States Secretary of Commerce. The senior Lutnick and his wife Allison chaired United Hatzalah’s 2024 New York gala, which raised $20 million for United Hatzalah as the shadow of October 7th still loomed large.