Record-breaking $3.8 million raised in Los Angeles for Israel's Magen David Adom

The inaugural American Friends of Magen David Adom Western Regional Gala Dinner was held  Sunday October 6, 2013 at the Beverly Hilton and raised a phenomenal 3.8 million dollars for Israel's first responders.

Via JTA:

Celebs like Jackie Mason, Neil Sedaka, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child and 12-year-old piano prodigy Ethan Bortnick showed up at the American Friends of Magen David Adom’s first-ever Los Angeles gala Sunday night. The event raised a record-breaking $3.8 million — the most ever raised at a single AFMDA event.

The funds will go toward building a new blood center in Israel. The current one, built in the 1980s, doesn’t accommodate the country’s growing population, and is in danger of being affected by rocket attacks and earthquakes. The updated version will include new and secure underground storage facilities.

 From the American Friends of Magen David Adom's press release

  MDA is Israel’s government-mandated – but not government funded – national emergency-response, ambulance, and blood services organization. Israel’s current blood center, built in the 1980s, no longer accommodates the nation’s growing population and is vulnerable to terror and rocket attacks, as well as earthquakes (Israel sits on two active fault lines).

The Gala raised funds for all of MDA’s lifesaving services, with the majority of the money going towards building a new blood center, equipped with new and secure underground blood storage facilities.