The Friends of the IDF has received the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities.
Young Leadership
2nd Annual Soldier Bowl
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Central Region Young Leadership enjoyed a great day on Friday, December 25th by bowling to raise money for IDF soldiers at Waveland Bowl in Chicago. The event gathering of 70 guests helped support four IMPACT! scholarships for former IDF combat soldiers seeking higher education who come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. There was an extensive silent auction with prizes including golfing foursomes at some of the most beautiful country clubs in the Chicagoland area, designer jewelry, hot tickets to Chicago sporting events, personal training packages, intimate dinners for two, and more. Soldier Bowl is steadily becoming a can’t-miss event for young Jews in Chicago – FIDF YL looks forward to seeing you there next year!
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FIDF-Central Region raises
$2.2 Million to aid Israel’s Soldiers
Funds raised support educational, cultural, and recreational programs for the young men and women soldiers of Israel
On October 21, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Central Region honored Jeffrey Silverman with the Yonatan Netanyahu Award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and advocacy on behalf of Israel’s soldiers. This incredible event, led by Dinner Chairman Jorde M. Nathan and Vice-Chairmen Hezi Levy and Israel Levy was attended by over 1,000 FIDF supporters and raised over $2.2 million for the wellbeing of Israel’s brave soldiers. FIDF Central Region hosted sixteen visiting IDF Soldiers at the 22nd Annual Dinner. Lieutenant General (Res.) Dan Haloutz, Former IDF Chief of the General Staff and Former Commander of the Israeli Air Forcewas the keynote speaker.
“FIDF responds to the immediate needs of the brave men and women defending Israel,” said Jorde Nathan, Chairman of the FIDF 22nd Annual Dinner. “By supporting FIDF, we can make a difference in the lives of Israel’s soldiers. Their job is to protect Israel and our job is to support them.”
Central Region Hosts
Three visiting IMPACT!
Scholarship Students
This July, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Central Region hosted IDF Soldiers and IMPACT! Scholarship Students for a week of events with the Chicagoland community!
The weekend culminated with over 150 community leaders on a spectacular afternoon at the home of Myra and Mickey Sanderman for the 2009 Summer Benefit for Israel's soldiers. IDF Major General (Res.) Jerry Gershon, Friends of the IDF National Director, briefed the crowd on the current situation in Israel and spoke about the different programs and projects that Friends of the IDF supports for the wellbeing of Israel's soldiers. Three visiting IMPACT! Scholarship students told moving stories about their college experiences and life in the army and how support from Friends of the IDF has changed their lives.
Close to a $1 million was raised for Israel's brave soldiers including the completion of a Canteen and Dining Center at the REIM base near Gaza in Israel and gifts toward the IMPACT! Scholarship program that awards former combat soldiers a full academic scholarship.
LEGACY:
a Midwest summer experience
for children and siblings of fallen soldiers
Behind every soldier that falls in defense of the State of Israel, there are parents, siblings, children, and other family members whose lives have been changed forever.
For children celebrating their Bar or Bat Mitzvah without the presence of their loved-one, the struggle is often harder.
The LEGACY program was created to help them through this difficult time by bringing them to the United States to participate in summer camps.
To learn more about how you can help the Central Region bring children from bereaved families to the Midwest in Summer 2010, CLICK HERE or contact 312.372.8500.
Central Region Executive Committee Maurice Sanderman, Chairman John Lowenstein, President Jorde Nathan, Vice-President Steve Hefter, Secretary/Treasurer
Al Brody
Daniel J. Hyman
Mark Schneider
Professional Staff: Adina Y. Torchman, Executive Director Julie Levine Rubin, Director of Programs and Operations Allyson Becker, Development Director Lauren Waldstein, Development Associate Mellonese Hayes, Bookkeeper Ashley Kolpak, Administrative Assistant
Friends of the IDF Central Region 29 East Madison Street Chicago, IL 60602-4550
This March, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Central Region hosted IDF Combat Soldiers Ido Katz and Adi Gigi. Sari Klein, Women’s Brigade Chairwoman and her husband Jim, welcomed 43 friends into their home for dinner and conversation with the two brave soldiers who recently fought on the front lines in Operation Cast Lead. Young Leadership Campaign Chairman Tom Kane invited friends and colleagues for a luncheon in at his office downtown. Board Member Jeff Aeder, his wife Jennifer Levine and their four children spent the afternoon with Adi and Ido sightseeing and enjoying the beautiful early spring weather. Young Leadership Vice-President Adam Levy also spent time with them, exploring and eating famous Chicago-style food!
On March 10th, FIDF Young Leadership held their 3rd Annual Purim Party Eleven City Diner. The event was huge success with over 200 attendees. FIDF Young Leadership raised over $4,900 towards their four IMPACT! students.
Young Leadership Emergency
Campaign Event at Underground
Over 300 of Chicago’s best and brightest young leaders in the Jewish community came together at The Underground on January 15, 2009 to raise awareness for the crisis in Israel. Guest speaker and native Chicagoan IDF Soldier Dor Pintel spoke to the crowd and encouraged them to aid the soldiers of the IDF. Attendees responded by raising over $28,000 for FIDF Frontline Operation which was used to meet the immediate needs of the brave soldiers who fought during Operation Cast Lead.
Mission Statement
The FIDF initiates and helps support social, educational, cultural and recreational programs and facilities for the young men and women soldiers of Israel who defend the Jewish homeland. The FIDF also provides support for the families of fallen soldiers.
