In an emotionally stirring ceremony, Israeli President Shimon Peres presented DVI with the Presidents Award for Volunteerism on June 24, 2009. After 29 years of providing critical services to Jerusalem's poorest children and receiving awards and recognition from the Jerusalem Municipality and Israel's Ministry of Health, DVI's dentists around the world have now been recognized by the State of Israel for their profound contribution. This is the highest recognition an Israeli volunteer organization can receive for its services to the community.
Volunteer dentists Dr. Sharon Freudenberger and Dr. Lama Assaf accompanied Director Dr. Moti Moskovitz in approaching President Peres to receive the award. Dr. Freudenberger, of Cleveland Ohio, first came to DVI in 1990, attending the 10 year anniversary, after having been recruited by FDVI's current Vice Chairman Dr. Michael Goldberg, who was her dentist in Manhattan in the early 80s. Dr. Assaf is Palestinian from East Jerusalem, and has been a devout volunteer at DVI for many years, constantly filling in on short notice when foreign dentists cancel. Octogenarian Dr. Per Arne Johannson, DVI's Swedish representative came to Israel especially to attend the ceremony; a long-time DVI dentist and activist, Dr. Johannson helped Trudi Birger get DVI off the ground, sending dentists and funds from Sweden for the last 19 years. Trudi's husband Zev Birger, DVI's Honorary Chairman, DVI Chairman Avraham Asheri and DVI's Finance Chairman Yossef Liberman took time to speak with and thank all of DVI's 70 guests attending the ceremony.
