Media Advisory: Spirit of Hope Benefit a Stunning Success!

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 2, 2011) -

Editor's Note: There is a photo associated with this release.

With more than $2 million raised to continue the efforts of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) to counter racism, discrimination and anti-Semitism, the 2011 Spirit of Hope gala Benefit surpassed all expectations as Alan Dershowitz, David Gergen, Robert Gibbs and Bob Woodward, with Heather Reisman as moderator, wowed the crowd of more than 2000 people and held the audience's rapt attention throughout the evening. Guests, including Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Dr. Eric Hoskins, Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Tim Hudak, Lead sponsors of the event, business tycoon Alex Shnaider and Simona Shnaider, Founder and Chair of the Four Seasons hotel chain Issy Sharp, film producer Robert Lantos, director Simcha Jacobovic, philanthropist Leslie Dan, Benefit Co-Chairs Tony Comper, Former President & CEO BMO & Elizabeth Comper and Garry Foster, Vice-Chairman Deloitte & Touche & Joanne Foster and business mogul Gerry Schwartz were among the attendees who sat enthralled as the speakers engaged in a wide ranging discussion focused on politics, prosperity and the pursuit of peace in the Middle East.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please see the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/fswc1a.jpg.

Photo Caption

(Standing L-R): Benefit Co-Chairs Tony & Elizabeth Comper, Washington Post Associate Editor Bob Woodward, Rabbi Meyer May, CNN Political Analyst David Gergen, President & CEO of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, Avi Benlolo, Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Benefit Co-Chairs Joanne & Garry Foster, Lawyer and Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz and Rabbi Abraham Cooper. Seated: Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean & Founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles and Heather Reisman, Founder and CEO of Indigo Books & Music.