News

Over 30 construction projects and operational programs were implemented or advanced in 2018, thanks to many generous donors. These address important urban needs and meaningfully impact education, welfare, culture, and the environment in the city.

Ed and Barbara Shapiro celebrated Tu Bishvat (Jewish New Year for Trees) with Mayor Ron Huldai and children of asylum seekers, planting a tree at a local kindergarten after touring the newly renovated daycare in the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station. The Shapiro Foundation supported the renovation of the daycare as well as afternoon childcare facilities in kindergartens. Creating such facilities to remove children of asylum seekers from unsafe environments is a critical need in south Tel Aviv. The Shapiros pledged to continue to support this most vulnerable group.

The Sylvan Adams Commuter Path was recently inaugurated in a dedication ceremony in Ganei Yehoshua. The path was officially opened by Mayor Ron Huldai, donor Sylvan Adams, representatives from KKL-JNF Canada, which also contributed to the project, and riders from the Israel Cycling Academy.

On December 17th, Israel Bonds with the American Committee for the Tel Aviv Foundation hosted a special breakfast to honor major milestones of US Chairman Josh Weston, who celebrated his 90th birthday, and Mayor Ron Huldai, who was recently elected for a fifth term. Josh Weston, whose generosity has had a tremendous impact on science and robotics education in Tel Aviv, was presented with the key to the city by the Mayor during a visit to New York.

Over the past three years, the ‘Significant Adult’ program has achieved major success in addressing challenges faced by young Ethiopians in low socio-economic neighborhoods in Jaffa. Many children lack supervision, structure and a safe environment as their parents work long hours. Thanks to the generosity of the UK Sobell Foundation, two youth workers were employed to build relationships with the children, engage them in alternative activities and support them through difficulties. The youth workers, who are also Ethiopian, have been embraced and work with over 50 children every day, helping to reduce juvenile delinquency rates, support children’s schooling, and help families access services.

The Center for Services for the Blind runs programs for, and provides support to, children who are visually impaired, blind or whose family members are visually impaired. One of their most popular programs is the ‘Marshmellow’ summer camp (the center is known as ‘Marshall’ in Hebrew). The family of Lionel and Sidel Weinstein and Temple Shaaray Tefila of Bedford, New York, are longtime supporters of this program and have generously agreed to fund the camp for the next five years. To honor their love of Israel and Tel Aviv, and to support the good works of the Center for Services for the Blind, the program will now be known as the ‘Lionel and Sidel Weinstein Camp for Vision Impaired Children, sponsored by Temple Shaaray Tefila.’

Bet Tami is a community center in the center of Tel Aviv, established in 1997 through the generosity of the Steinmetz family (Israel) in memory of their daughter, Tami. It is a hub for cultural activities, including arts, music, sports and enrichment programs, for hundreds of people of all ages. Due to the center’s growing popularity, the Steinmetz family generously agreed to fund the construction of an additional floor and other upgrades in order to house additional activities. Construction is now underway.

On 26 June the Tel Aviv Foundation welcomed the Feldman family of San Diego, USA,  for the dedication of the Feldman Kindergarten on Bashevis-Zinger Street in Nofei Yam. The kindergarten was dedicated by Aaron Feldman in memory of the late David Feldman and in honor of his grandchildren, in the presence of his family from around the world. The kindergarten was built with five classrooms (as opposed to the standard two) to accommodate the large population of young families in the area.

The Tel Aviv Foundation is once again appearing at the annual Tel Aviv Cities Summit, part of the DLD Tel Aviv Innovation Festival.