A former head of state will be speaking to an estimated 2,000 patrons of the Jewish community on Tuesday, March 6 as Bill Clinton comes to the Manchester Grand Hyatt as keynote speaker for the United Jewish Federation’s (UJF) Together as One event.
Whereas the UJF usually holds several events each year, including a men’s event and a women’s event, the securing of Clinton was sure to draw very large crowds and eliminate the need for multiple events, hence the event’s title. Additionally, Together as One also marks the organization’s 70th anniversary in San Diego.
“This is the first time we’re doing this together,” said co-chair Judy Lilienthal. [It’s] like an outreach because of the 70th anniversary of the federation.”
At UJF events, “there’s never been someone as big as him in San Diego before,” said Lilienthal.
Having parlayed his presidency into a career as one of the world’s leading philanthropy advocates, Clinton was asked by the co-chairs of the event to speak on this very subject. The idea is to encourage philanthropic giving among the attendees as every attendee is required to make a minimum gift to UJF’s annual campaign.
“The UJF is, if you will, a United Way of the Jewish community,” said Murray Galinson, co-chair for Together as One. “It supports a number of agencies within San Diego County … and it also supports a number of overseas organizations, mostly in Israel.”
The event kicks off at 6 p.m. when a dinner buffet observing kosher dietary laws will be served on the fourth floor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, along with a hosted bar. Then at 7:15 p.m. doors will open as guests will be invited into the Douglas Pavilion on the first floor, where at 8 .m. the program begins with theater-style seating.
As moderator, Galinson will be handling questions from the audience which will be written to avoid a tendency for people to give speeches. And while there will no doubt be a speaker introducing the keynote speaker, Galinson said the organization is really trying to focus on him rather than on other people.
“I think [Clinton’s visit] will match with the federation’s work that we’re doing here with what he does now after he’s been president,” said Lilienthal.
Organizers said they might expect the estimated number of attendees to increase, since “in San Diego, people don’t make reservations until the last minute,” said Galinson with a laugh.
“We’re mainly getting reservations from people who have not been recent contributors. But for the most part these will be people who have contributed in the last several years,” said Galinson.
To register online, visit www.jewishinsandiego.org. Alternatively, interested attendees may contact Rachel at (858) 571-3444 or [email protected].