Mancunians brave the big freeze to support UJIA

Nobel winner Lord Trimble is guest of honour at Manchester UJIA Annual Dinner, raising over £700,000

Over 300 people from across the North West braved subzero temperatures to attend the Manchester UJIA Annual Dinner at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate Hotel on Monday 6 December 2010. The annual fundraising dinner is the most prestigious event in the Manchester Jewish community's calendar and raised over £700,000 towards UJIA's programmes for young people and education in the UK and northern Israel.

Guest speaker at the event was Lord Trimble who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 in recognition of his contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Lord Trimble's speech in Manchester came hot on the heels of his appearance at the Leeds UJIA Annual Dinner which raised £235,000 the previous week.

Guests also heard from Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom, HE Ron Prosor, who gave the work of the UJIA his whole-hearted support, as well as Joshua Rowe, Joint President of Manchester UJIA, who gave an impassioned appeal for funds. This event was the first one to be overseen by Manchester UJIA's new Chairman, Andrew Joseph.

Ilana Ray, UJIA Regional Director, commented:

"It was wonderful to see so many people from Manchester beat the freezing weather to show their support for UJIA and raise money for young people in our community here in the UK and in northern Israel. The event was a huge success and everyone went home with smiles on their faces, thanking us for a memorable evening."