Community response to last year’s Gala Charity Dinner at Crown has been overwhelming.

Donations received to date have exceeded $1.8 million and are still coming in. This sets us well on the way towards building our proposed $4.5 million housing and respite development for adults with special needs.

We are indebted to our 1,200 special guests, particularly patron Naomi Milgrom; our sponsors; the hon John Brumby MP, Treasurer of Victoria; MC Sam Lipski AM; and Heloise Waislitz and the Pratt family for their generous leading major gift.

We are particularly grateful to the children and adults with disabilities who participated in the night and the fantastic support and involvement of their families.

We believe the event marked a turning point in the community’s understanding of the challenges faced by those living with a disability and how Jewish Care is supporting them and their families.

It also provided the springboard for our ongoing campaign to raise the $2.7 million still required to undertake this vital project, as well as highlighting opportunities for volunteering.

The need for proper infrastructure to assist those with disabilities in our community has become critical.

In response, Jewish Care has developed an innovative plan to construct a community complex in the heart of Caulfield, providing adult housing (for up to 16 people with disabilities), adult respite care and recreational facilities; and to relocate our respite home for children.

This new complex will provide a heimish (homely), nurturing environment in which Jewish people with disabilities can live in privacy and comfort while enjoying lifestyle, social and community activities with their neighbours, relatives and friends.

Jewish Care thanks all those who have supported, or who are intending to support, this vital community project.