Father and Son, Magician and Bar Mitzvah Boy, Work Together to Raise Funds for Haitian Earthquake Victims
Hollywood, FL, February 8, 2010: A local magician and his almost 13-year-old son, who will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah later this month, are co-producing Prestidigitation for Haitian Salvation, an evening of magic to be held Sunday, February 14 in downtown Hollywood, to raise funds for the purchase of medical supplies and medication for Haitian earthquake victims.
Upon seeing the news reports from Haiti in the wake of last month’s devastating earthquake, Moshe Frier, a seventh grader at Brauser Maimonides Academy in Hollywood, announced to his family that as part of the celebration of his upcoming Bar Mitzvah, he wanted to do something to help the victims. In addition to giving a monetary donation from his Bar Mitzvah gifts, Moshe wanted to get others to pitch in as well.
Moshe's father, Avi Frier, a comedy magician and producer of The Magic Spotlight, a monthly magic variety show that ran at the Hollywood Improv in 2008 and 2009, suggested that The Magic Spotlight be revived for a one-time performance, with all proceeds benefitting the earthquake victims. Avi would produce the show, but it would be Moshe's responsibility to recruit volunteers, coordinate donations, and help with the publicity. Moshe agreed and the planning began.
Top local talent was recruited to donate their time for the production. Guy Bavli, an internationally acclaimed mentalist with numerous TV credits, agreed to perform without hesitation. Originally from Israel but now based in Ft. Lauderdale, Bavli was a finalist on Phenomenon, NBC’s nationally televised search for the world’s greatest mentalist, produced and judged by Criss Angel and Uri Geller.
When Chuck Ellis, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts at the City of Hollywood, heard about the project, he authorized the use of the city’s 500-seat downtown performing arts center at no charge, and corporate sponsors like M.I.S. Support, Inc., a Boca Raton-based computer networking and support firm, and Holy Cross Hospital, pitched in to assist with the other expenses.
Having just returned from a week of volunteering at makeshift clinics in Haiti, Elie Schochet, M.D., a surgeon at Holy Cross and close friend of the Frier family, expressed the need for donations of money for medical supplies and medications for his next trip. Dubbed “Mission of Mercy” by the hospital, the first trip to Haiti was made by a team of five physicians, a medical student, and a P.A. student.
Schochet connected the Friers with the administration at Holy Cross, and a partnership was formed. The hospital would cover all printing and labor costs needed to produce and promote the show, and all proceeds from ticket sales would be used to purchase the medical supplies needed for the next Mission of Mercy.
“What sealed the deal for us was the fact that 100% of the money we raise will be used to purchase supplies,” Frier said. “None of it is being used for administrative or even travel expenses, so we feel like we’re having a direct impact on the people we’re trying to help.
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