Laurence with the Award of Excellence, and from left to right Nelly de Bobrow, IWD International President; Moodi Sandberg, KH-UIA World Chairman; Louise Paktor, IWD Vice-President for Europe and Yohanna Arbib-Perugia, Chair of KH-UIA world Board of Trustees

Opening the ceremony, IWD International President, Nelly de Bobrow, stated that "all the women who have previously received this prestigious award have deserved it.  Laurence, however, is a most singular person - a generous and brave woman, who contributed her time, and still does, to help advance the State of Israel. A dedicated and committed solicitor, she has a record of activity that had a major impact on her fellow human beings, even before joining Keren Hayesod". 

Mrs. de Bobrow went on to note that Laurence received the prestigious United Jewish Communities Kipnis-Wilson/Friendland Prize, conferred on women who have achieved the highest level of volunteerism and philanthropy, concluding: "As Jews and as Zionists, we Keren Hayesod activists must thank Laurence for her leadership, her abilities, her boundless energy and her vast experience. Women’s Divisions throughout the world, and all the members of Keren Hayesod, join me in congratulating you on this well-deserved Award of Excellence in recognition of your lifetime work, which is an example to us all”!

Laurence Borot addresses the audience

Taking the floor after Nelly, Laurence Borot shared her emotions with all the participants who had gathered to pay tribute to her: "I feel strange receiving an award that I bestowed with so much love and pride for so many years to deserving women: Noemi Staszewski, Ziggy Lambert-Revel, Joyce Cohen, Simy Bentata, Rose Aboucaya, Jill Kaplan, and Sonia Reizin. I must confess that I felt more comfortable then, when I gave it, than now, when I am receiving it".

Recalling her presidency years, she stated: "I would like to take this opportunity to remind all of you that the greatest treasure that the KH family has is its volunteers. For me it is an honour to have served as IWD president, and to have been able, during those six years, to guide the development of the IWD, enabling us today to hold the place of honour we deserve, both in Israel and everywhere in the KH world. It is by working together, by sharing our aspirations and pooling our efforts that we are able to achieve our goals. And this is how we achieved so many great things".

An enthusiastic applause greeted her concluding sentences: "I thank, from the bottom of my heart, all the women that worked so closely with me and helped me in so many ways. Thank you for your unconditional and genuine support, thank you for your generosity, and thank you for your friendship".