Hollywood celebs raise $31 million for IDF soldiers

Actors and singers take part in massive FIDF event, showing 'amazing support of Hollywood elite and Jewish community' for Israeli soldiers.

The Friends of the IDF (FIDF), Israel Defense Forces organization on Thursday night held its annual event honoring the IDF at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, where an outpouring of 1,200 people including numerous celebs showed their support for the Israeli army.

As is the case each year, the event was hosted by Israeli billionaire Haim Saban, who together with his wife Cheryl was able to invite Hollywood notables such as actors Antonio Banderas, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg, Goldie Hawn,Jason Alexander, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Segel, Liev Schreiber, singers Paul McCartney and Ringo Star, Rod Stewart, Liza Minnelli, Enrico Macias, David Foster, and Gene Simmons of the band Kiss, as well as several others.

Simon Cowell donated $150,000 to the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, an organization formed by Holocaust survivors that pays for the education and care of Israeli troops and supports families of slain soldiers.

This year no less than $31 million were raised for IDF soldiers at the event, which was attended by 15 soldiers, including several lone soldiers who were born and raised in the US.