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Notable Past Events:
The Ann Arbor Chapter of ORT America hosted its
Donor Dinner: Tuesday, May 9
with Special speaker
Amos Gofer, Executive Director of ORT’s Kfar Silver Youth Village in southern Israel
For a recent video about the Ukrainian students there, go to https://youtu.be/4RcZqpfW3c8
For a longer look at Kfar Silver Youth Village, go to https://youtu.be/ea3F0pSmKQU
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This program was recorded and can be viewed by going to the EMU Jewish Studies website
DONATE NOW
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Ukraine is in crisis. The safety and well-being of more than 8,000 students, teachers, staff and their families are under real threat.
The state says schools must open in September
but also that they must have bomb shelters!
Ukrainian civilians across the entire country are trying to remain safe.
We are responsible for providing our communities with
the support they need in their time of great need.
The Time to ACT is NOW
Please help us reach our goal of $500,000 to meet the most pressing needs including:
Food with a long shelf-life and water
Provide essential items such as power supply devices, blankets,
temporary shelters, heaters, folding beds
First aid kits including essential medicines and bio-toilets
Mental health services for students and teachers
Provide additional security guards and upgrade security measure for ORT schools campuses,
community centers and students homes
DONATE NOW
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World ORT Meets Ann Arbor
Dan Green, CEO of World ORT, met for lunch with Marci Sukenic, Hanna Goodstein, Babette Daskin and Joan Levitt at Soul Cafe in West Bloomfield, MI on Dec. 13, 2021 during his visit to the Detroit area. He was very informative, discussing World ORT’s present and future goals, and emphasizing the need for expanding ORT services in the Former Soviet Union and Israel.
Dan Green, CEO of World ORT, met for lunch with Marci Sukenic, Hanna Goodstein, Babette Daskin and Joan Levitt at Soul Cafe in West Bloomfield, MI on Dec. 13, 2021 during his visit to the Detroit area. He was very informative, discussing World ORT’s present and future goals, and emphasizing the need for expanding ORT services in the Former Soviet Union and Israel.
From focusing on teaching 19th century Russian Jews essential trades and professions, ORT has evolved to provide 21st century skills to empower people and strengthen communities. Our ORT network now reaches more than 200,000 people a year, in more than 30 countries, and is one of the largest educational charities in the world. We provide a combination of high-level science and technology education with strengthened Jewish identity to bridge the gap between ability and opportunity – and to ensure the continuity of Jewish life worldwide.
Our Chapter devoted one year of fundraising to outfitting a smart classroom in Kfar Silver so we are delighted at the following news...
ORT secures significant funding
from Ronson Family Foundation for Kfar Silver improvements
A major renovation project will transform the Kfar Silver Youth Village in Israel after World ORT secured substantial investment from one of British Jewry’s leading philanthropic foundations.
The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation has made a very significant anchor donation to the $11 million four-year project – the largest at an ORT school worldwide in living memory. In recognition, the campus – while continuing to bear its commonly used name of the Kfar Silver Youth Village – will be named the Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation Campus.
Close to Ashkelon and the Gaza border, Kfar Silver was bought by World ORT in 2016. It includes a high school, a boarding school and an agricultural farm – making the campus unique in its provision for youngsters. The village has around 740 students, with one-third living on site as boarders.
Many youngsters in the community come from broken homes and families with substantial financial struggles. With a large number of orphans and children from immigrant families, there are significant emotional and academic support needs within the village. Starved of government investment since its creation in the 1950s, the village is badly run-down and requires substantial infrastructure development, repair and modernization. The project announced today includes significant improvements to Kfar Silver’s kitchen and dining hall complex, and the Senior High and Junior High school buildings.
Dan Green, World ORT Director General and CEO, said: “Kfar Silver is a jewel in the crown of the ORT network. The village has a fascinating history and has the potential to change the lives of its young residents. Signing this multi-million dollar, four-year renovation plan is the first step in making those changes a reality. “We are determined to transform the village into a location in which hundreds of young people who have not had the best start to life can thrive and realize their dreams. “At a time when good news is scarce, this agreement is a hugely positive development and shows the continued strength of British Jewish philanthropy alongside a forward-thinking, long-term commitment from the ORT network.”
Gerald Ronson CBE added: “During my visit to Kfar Silver a year ago I saw in person the real need for its renovation and revitalization. These students need to be able to eat, study and sleep safely, without the roof over their heads leaking. When they are in their classrooms they need proper facilities to learn and develop in surroundings that are as nurturing, safe and healthy for them as possible. “That’s why our Foundation is happy to support this project to provide hundreds of young Israeli students with the environment they need to achieve their potential. And with ORT, we have partners with a long track-record of doing exactly that.”
Support for the project comes from across ORT’s global network, with donors and supporters of ORT America and ORT UK raising additional funds. Further contributions have come from ORT Suisse, ORT Canada and ORT Belgium.
The renovations include $5m of work on the kitchen and dining hall – one of the most important areas of the village as the provider of sustenance for all students and staff. Emergency works in the kitchen began last year after Israel’s Ministries of Health and Education threatened to close parts of the site.
The Senior High School will see widescale modernization of its classrooms and offices, the transformation of its shared spaces to encourage group study, new wi-fi systems and repaired plumbing. This section of the work will be completed with the support of a further substantial donation from the Maurice Hatter Foundation in recognition of the long-standing devotion to ORT of its former President, the late Sir Maurice Hatter, his wife Lady Irene and the Foundation.
The Kfar Silver campus
Although World ORT has renovated the Junior High School’s classrooms in recent years, areas including roofing, corridors and the electricity system are in urgent need of repair and will be fixed thanks to the Ronson investment.
Simon Alberga, Deputy President of World ORT and former Chairman of ORT UK, said: “I am delighted ORT UK has played a leading role in helping the Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation to support this vital facility in Israel’s periphery. “We should all be very proud that the foundations of this wide-scale renovation have been set in Britain’s Jewish community. It is also a fantastic indicator of the continued relevance of our work as we celebrate the centenary of ORT UK in 2021.”
Mark Mishon, ORT UK trustee, added: “It is fitting that the Ronsons are leading from the front in supporting the crucial redevelopment of Kfar Silver – for years their Foundation has been a powerhouse in backing educational projects throughout Israel. Now, with this investment, together with ORT, they will help to put the future in the hands of a new generation of Israeli children.”
Amos Gofer, CEO of Kfar Silver, said: “The Ronson Family’s contribution, combined with the work detailed in this project, will position Kfar Silver as one of the most advanced youth villages in the country and without doubt it will be one of the leading schools in the entire southern region. “On behalf of the entire village staff, student body and myself, I wholeheartedly thank the Ronson family, all the donors and all those who have been working tirelessly on this project from World ORT and Kadima Mada.”
ORT secures significant funding
from Ronson Family Foundation for Kfar Silver improvements
A major renovation project will transform the Kfar Silver Youth Village in Israel after World ORT secured substantial investment from one of British Jewry’s leading philanthropic foundations.
The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation has made a very significant anchor donation to the $11 million four-year project – the largest at an ORT school worldwide in living memory. In recognition, the campus – while continuing to bear its commonly used name of the Kfar Silver Youth Village – will be named the Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation Campus.
Close to Ashkelon and the Gaza border, Kfar Silver was bought by World ORT in 2016. It includes a high school, a boarding school and an agricultural farm – making the campus unique in its provision for youngsters. The village has around 740 students, with one-third living on site as boarders.
Many youngsters in the community come from broken homes and families with substantial financial struggles. With a large number of orphans and children from immigrant families, there are significant emotional and academic support needs within the village. Starved of government investment since its creation in the 1950s, the village is badly run-down and requires substantial infrastructure development, repair and modernization. The project announced today includes significant improvements to Kfar Silver’s kitchen and dining hall complex, and the Senior High and Junior High school buildings.
Dan Green, World ORT Director General and CEO, said: “Kfar Silver is a jewel in the crown of the ORT network. The village has a fascinating history and has the potential to change the lives of its young residents. Signing this multi-million dollar, four-year renovation plan is the first step in making those changes a reality. “We are determined to transform the village into a location in which hundreds of young people who have not had the best start to life can thrive and realize their dreams. “At a time when good news is scarce, this agreement is a hugely positive development and shows the continued strength of British Jewish philanthropy alongside a forward-thinking, long-term commitment from the ORT network.”
Gerald Ronson CBE added: “During my visit to Kfar Silver a year ago I saw in person the real need for its renovation and revitalization. These students need to be able to eat, study and sleep safely, without the roof over their heads leaking. When they are in their classrooms they need proper facilities to learn and develop in surroundings that are as nurturing, safe and healthy for them as possible. “That’s why our Foundation is happy to support this project to provide hundreds of young Israeli students with the environment they need to achieve their potential. And with ORT, we have partners with a long track-record of doing exactly that.”
Support for the project comes from across ORT’s global network, with donors and supporters of ORT America and ORT UK raising additional funds. Further contributions have come from ORT Suisse, ORT Canada and ORT Belgium.
The renovations include $5m of work on the kitchen and dining hall – one of the most important areas of the village as the provider of sustenance for all students and staff. Emergency works in the kitchen began last year after Israel’s Ministries of Health and Education threatened to close parts of the site.
The Senior High School will see widescale modernization of its classrooms and offices, the transformation of its shared spaces to encourage group study, new wi-fi systems and repaired plumbing. This section of the work will be completed with the support of a further substantial donation from the Maurice Hatter Foundation in recognition of the long-standing devotion to ORT of its former President, the late Sir Maurice Hatter, his wife Lady Irene and the Foundation.
The Kfar Silver campus
Although World ORT has renovated the Junior High School’s classrooms in recent years, areas including roofing, corridors and the electricity system are in urgent need of repair and will be fixed thanks to the Ronson investment.
Simon Alberga, Deputy President of World ORT and former Chairman of ORT UK, said: “I am delighted ORT UK has played a leading role in helping the Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation to support this vital facility in Israel’s periphery. “We should all be very proud that the foundations of this wide-scale renovation have been set in Britain’s Jewish community. It is also a fantastic indicator of the continued relevance of our work as we celebrate the centenary of ORT UK in 2021.”
Mark Mishon, ORT UK trustee, added: “It is fitting that the Ronsons are leading from the front in supporting the crucial redevelopment of Kfar Silver – for years their Foundation has been a powerhouse in backing educational projects throughout Israel. Now, with this investment, together with ORT, they will help to put the future in the hands of a new generation of Israeli children.”
Amos Gofer, CEO of Kfar Silver, said: “The Ronson Family’s contribution, combined with the work detailed in this project, will position Kfar Silver as one of the most advanced youth villages in the country and without doubt it will be one of the leading schools in the entire southern region. “On behalf of the entire village staff, student body and myself, I wholeheartedly thank the Ronson family, all the donors and all those who have been working tirelessly on this project from World ORT and Kadima Mada.”
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Transform lives & improve the world through education.
Help ORT meet the challenge of providing outstanding education and support to our young people from under-resourced communities as they grapple with the devastating impact of COVID-19.
Over the past 140 years, ORT has confronted every challenge and has continued to operate in the most difficult circumstances whenever required. COVID-19 presents ORT with a new and unfamiliar challenge. As a critical provider of education to more than 300,000 beneficiaries in Israel, the Former Soviet Union, Latin America, Asia, South Africa and Europe, we cannot allow the shutdown of our schools and colleges to result in the end of our educational programs.
Join ORT’s Immediate Needs Campaign to respond to the current needs of ORT’s network of schools and thousands of students worldwide. Your gift could provide essential distance learning support.
To allow our students in struggling communities
access to distance learning while schools are closed, ORT provides
a range of equipment, training and support, including:
Provision of laptops or tablets
Professional development for teachers
Distance learning content development, including Math Club activities,
STEM Enhancement Program, Creative Compositions, Virtual Volunteering
Your gift could help with critical tuition support.
ORT is establishing a tuition support fund for students from low socio-economic backgrounds
whose families are struggling to pay tuition fees.
Click the blue button below:
Or download this donor card to mail:
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ORT America is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
contributions to which may be deductible for federal income tax.
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immediate_needs.png
ORT America is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
contributions to which may be deductible for federal income tax.
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Kadima Mada - what a return on investment this amazing program has produced since its inception in 2007, where it is now active in 200 schools, with 5,000 well-trained teachers interacting with over 150,000 students in under-resourced communities.
Matriculation rates have soared in those areas where Kadima Mada operates - 71% on average from Kadima-Mada affiliated schools compared to Israel's national average of 50%. And in Kiryat Yam, home of the Alex and Betty Schoenbaum Science, Education, Cultural and Sports Campus, the rate has gone as high as 95% at Rodman High School, double what it was just a few years before.
Kadima Mada-Kav Or brings the same expertise and sophistication to hospitalized Israeli children in dozens of pediatric hospitals, ensuring that they have access to all the learning experiences they'd normally have if they were in their chairs in their classrooms at their schools.
Kadima Mada is the perfect example of how, since 1880, we have never wavered from our mission to educate and elevate people for lives of dignity and independence.
But the way we fulfill that mission now, in the 21st century, with more sophisticated technologies and a more global reach, is also more expensive. There is just no way to get around that hard fact.
So our pitch is simple because the need for funds to achieve our mission is always immediate and forever constant:
Invest -- now -- in ORT. That's it -- four words that will make a literal world of difference.
Join Team ORT and help secure the futures of thousands
of children and the future of Israel today!
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See What You Built in Argentina
Next Generation ORTists and long-time members had the opportunity to experience Buenos Aires and Montevideo through an ORT lens. For seven days, they toured famous sites and explored the natural beauty and culture of Argentina and Uruguay, and also interacted with locals and embraced life in South America.
Most memorable though were the visits to ORT schools, where mission participants met current and former students, saw first-hand the vibrant classrooms and innovative programs, and learned from grateful parents how your investment has made everything possible, from high-tech robotics programs to fully-outfitted radio and television stations.
"The trip to ORT Argentina was like going full-circle for me,” said ORT America Next Gen member and Mission Co- Chair Leandro Margulis (who is an ORT Argentina alumnus). “It was great to see how much ORT Argentina has grown with ORT America’s help and to see that they are still at the forefront of technology and innovation.”
Energized by this mission, participants are eager to share what they saw and ready to ask others to join them and invest in ORT’s educational programs. Ken Sulek (Lakewood Ranch, FL), one of the participants, said it best: “The real gift of the mission was seeing the results of our support. So look for a mission; then take one! You will never look at the importance of your participation in ORT in the same way.”
Next Generation ORTists and long-time members had the opportunity to experience Buenos Aires and Montevideo through an ORT lens. For seven days, they toured famous sites and explored the natural beauty and culture of Argentina and Uruguay, and also interacted with locals and embraced life in South America.
Most memorable though were the visits to ORT schools, where mission participants met current and former students, saw first-hand the vibrant classrooms and innovative programs, and learned from grateful parents how your investment has made everything possible, from high-tech robotics programs to fully-outfitted radio and television stations.
"The trip to ORT Argentina was like going full-circle for me,” said ORT America Next Gen member and Mission Co- Chair Leandro Margulis (who is an ORT Argentina alumnus). “It was great to see how much ORT Argentina has grown with ORT America’s help and to see that they are still at the forefront of technology and innovation.”
Energized by this mission, participants are eager to share what they saw and ready to ask others to join them and invest in ORT’s educational programs. Ken Sulek (Lakewood Ranch, FL), one of the participants, said it best: “The real gift of the mission was seeing the results of our support. So look for a mission; then take one! You will never look at the importance of your participation in ORT in the same way.”