President Shimon Peres (Center), congratluates Dick G. Schutte,
Chairman Christenen voor Israel (Left) and Roger Van Oordt, General
Director Christenen voor Israel (Right), both recipients of the Keren
Hayesod-UIA "Yakir Award" for their support and commitment to Israel.

July 7, 2010 / 25 Tammuz 5770

Keren Hayesod - UIA (KH-UIA) celebrated its 90th year with a gala event on June 16, 2010, at the National Institutions courtyard in Jerusalem.

Over 100 KH - UIA leaders from across the globe gathered to pay tribute to the nine Yakir Award recipients who received the prestigious KH-UIA Award for outstanding leadership, vision and contribution to Keren Hayesod - UIA campaigns. The Awards were presented by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who thanked each recipient for their contribution to the State of Israel.

Prior to the Yakir ceremony, the recipients were personally presented to Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Among the recipients were two members of the Holland based Christenen voor Israel (CVI) -  Dick G. Schutte, CVI Chairman, and Roger Van Oordt, CVI General Director - becoming the first ever Christian supporters in the history of Keren Hayesod to receive the Yakir award. For over 30 years, Christenen voor Israel International has worked to support Israel and the Jewish people.

Established in 1979 in Holland and Jerusalem, CVI represents Christians from many denominations who are united in their support for Israel.  Over the past decade, CVI has worked closely with Keren Hayesod to support a variety of projects, particularity in the area of Aliya and absorption. Among other philanthropic contributions, their support made possible the Aliya of 100,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union, the opening of an absorption center and the building of the Holland Village in Jerusalem for new immigrants from the FSU.