Floyd Mayweather Donates $1 Million to United Hatzalah at Miami Gala

20.12.2024 21:45

The Algemeiner

Floyd Mayweather speaks to the media during the press conference after the 12-round Undisputed Super Middleweight World Title main-event bout at Premier Boxing Champions, Canelo vs Charlo. at T-Mobile Arena on Sept. 30, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Alejandro Salazar/PxImages/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather made a hefty donation to United Hatzalah of Israel, an emergency medical service, at the organization’s gala in Miami, Florida, on Thursday night.

Wearing a massive diamond necklace that featured a Star of David, the retired boxer joined Eli Beer, the president and founder of United Hatzalah, on stage at the gala and announced that he would donate $1 million to the organization to help reach its goal of raising $12 million that night. Moments after, Neil Book, chairman and CEO of the Jet Support Services, joined the former boxer and Beer on stage and said he would match Mayweather’s $1 million donation. United Hatzalah of Israel reportedly raised a total of $13,000,000 at the event on Thursday night, which was held at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa.

At the gala, Mayweather also gifted philanthropist Miriam Adelson, a longtime United Hatzalah of Israel partner and donor, with a diamond necklace that featured the organization’s emblem, which is a combination of the Star of Life and the Star of David.

United Hatzalah of Israel provides free, voluneteer emergency medical services all around Israel in an average response time of three minutes or less and often in less than 90 seconds. In October, Mayweather donated $100,000 to the organization to help it purchase 100 bulletproof vests to keep volunteers safe during ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Former talk show host Jay Leno was a special guest at the United Hatzalah gala on Thursday night and talked about his longtime support for the organization. He also called for the immediate return of the 100 hostages who remain held in captivity in Gaza since being abducted by Hamas-led terrorists in Israel more than 14 months ago. “About a mile and a half from my house, there’s a wonderful thing they do everyday, they have about 1,200 Israeli flags for the wounded and the hostage … it reminds people not to forget,” Leno said.

Shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terrorist attack in southern Israel last year, Mayweather sent his private jet to Israel to deliver medical equipment, food, and other items, including bulletproof vests for soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. He was one of the first outside of Israel to provide resources and supplies to the country at the start of the Israel-Hamas war. He has previously expressed support for soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces fighting in the ongoing war in Gaza, and earlier this month announced a new initiative in which he would gift every orphan in Israel a present for their birthday.

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