Miami, FL – November 20, 2024 – The Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation is deeply honored to welcome the Megera family as special guests at the highly anticipated “Love Always Wins” One-Year Memorial Gala. The event will be held on November 21, 2024, at the Temple House in Miami, marking a year since the tragic attacks of October 7, 2023.
The Megera family, whose lives were forever altered by the loss of Avi Megera in the horrific Hamas attacks, represents the resilience and courage of countless families impacted by these devastating events. In a poignant moment of the evening, Shalev Megera, Avi’s eldest daughter, will deliver heartfelt remarks honoring her father’s legacy and expressing gratitude for the global support extended to her family and others like them.
Below is the full text of Shalev’s speech:
“Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak here today. My name is Shalev Megera, and I am deeply honored to be here, surrounded by people who have the power to make a difference in so many lives.
My story begins in Israel, a place that has always been home to me and my family. My father was a kind and brave man. He worked hard every day to support us and believed in the strength of our community. He taught me about courage, compassion, and resilience. But one day, everything changed. A terror attack took him from us. Just like that, my father was gone.
Losing him left a hole in my heart that I don’t think will ever fully heal. But as time has passed, I have learned something important: I am not alone. There are people like you—Jewish community and business leaders with the heart and resources to make a difference—who have shown me that my pain and my story matter.
In Israel, we face challenges daily, and for many of us, the constant threat to our safety is part of our reality. But with the support of communities like yours, we have hope. You give us the strength to keep going, to build a future, and to pursue our dreams even when we feel broken. I know that with your help, I can find the strength to carry my father’s legacy forward and create a brighter future for my family and for others like me.
By supporting young people like me, you’re doing something powerful. You’re helping us rebuild, helping us find our paths, and showing us that our dreams don’t have to end in tragedy.
Thank you for standing with Israel, for believing in us, and for reminding us that we are a global family.
God bless you. God bless Israel!”
The gala is part of Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation’s ongoing commitment to support families impacted by violence, strengthen global ties, and foster resilience in the face of unimaginable loss. Through programs like the Doron Grant for Life, the Foundation provides essential support and a platform for young individuals like Shalev to find healing and hope.
For more information on the gala or to arrange media interviews, please contact:
Arti Loftus
Genesis BH Digital
arti@genesisbhdigital.com
For support on the ground in the US, please text Cynthia Artin, Executive Director of the Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation at +1 (845) 664-8484.
About Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation
Genesis Friends For Life Global Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization, alongside Genesis Friends for Life Foundation Israel, an NGO in Israel. The Foundation is committed to the long-term support and development of orphans, ensuring they receive the education, emotional support, and career opportunities they need to succeed in life.
Genesis Friends for Life Foundation is a US-Based 501c3 non-profit organization.
EIN number: 86-3266870
More information is available here.
About Genesis Business Humanity
Genesis Club members are part of an exclusive network of respected industry leaders and entrepreneurs committed to supporting businesses that share our mission to serve humanity. Our members share a common belief that when we combine our strengths and support innovators who aim to solve society’s greatest challenges, we can make a lasting difference.
Whether we are bringing human or financial capital to promising companies, we are focused on helping businesses scale profitably and expand in the U.S. and other major markets. We identify game-changing companies in Israel and other countries and lead them into new markets through our private, invitation-only club.
More information is available here.
Media Contacts:
In the U.S.:
Cynthia Artin
Executive Director, Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation
cynthiaartin@artinarts.onmicrosoft.com
+1 845 664 8484
In London:
Arti Loftus
Global Director, Marketing Communications and Media Relations
+44 7840 814 035
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