Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is a government-independent American charity that provides "social, educational, cultural and recreational programs and facilities" [Excerpt from the FIDF 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 widows and orphans of fallen soldiers. [http://www.israelsoldiers.org/]

] for soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, as well as the surviving family members of those who have died. It is the American partner of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers (AWIS), an organization founded by David Ben-Gurion in 1942 to collect blankets for the Jewish Brigade, and currently the largest charitable organization in Israel. [ [http://www.israelsoldiers.org/~israel/branches_palm_broward.htm Broward/Palm Beach Chapter Mission Statement] ]

Programs

FIDF maintains and constructs sports, cultural, recreational, and other such facilities across Israel, from Qiryat Shemona in the Golan Heights down to the far reaches of the Negev near Eilat. Seventeen of these projects have been completed while others are in the planning or construction phase. In addition to these centers, FIDF supports mobile units that serve similar functions for troops unable to use a permanent one. In another program known as "Spirit", FIDF supports weekly R&R for IDF soldiers at AWIS recreation facilities.

Beyond these centers, FIDF runs several financial support programs. "Impact" is a program that provides 4-year college, university, or vocational scholarships to combat soldiers coming from poor socioeconomic backgrounds. In its first 2 years of existence, 550 soldiers received scholarships. Another program called "Dignity" provides grants and vouchers to soldiers in financial need to pay bills or purchase food.

Between 14,000-20,000 IDF troops need hospital care each year for injuries sustained during their service. [ [http://www.israelsoldiers.org/wsp.htm Wounded Soldiers Program] ] FIDF supports a "Wounded Soldiers Program", donating personal amenities as well as facilitating contact with family members.

While helping current and former soldiers, FIDF also operates summer camps in Israel and the United States for the surviving orphans and widows of IDF personnel killed in the line of duty.

Members of FIDF can participate in an "FIDF Solidarity Mission" -- a group trip to Israel where participants interact with IDF personnel and visit Israeli attractions and places of interest. Some of these missions are geared toward "young leadership" members. Donors of $10,000 can sign up to participate in a one-week boot camp mission which includes army training as well as touring.

Organization

FIDF is organized into into 10 branches: New York Tri-State, Western Region, Chicago, Miami, Boston, Boca Raton, Michigan, Ohio, Atlanta, and Seattle. Under each of these offices are individual chapters. FIDFC, or Friends of the IDF on Campus [http://www.gwu.edu/~fidfc/] , is a group of FIDF at George Washington University. The current National President of the FIDF is Arthur Stark, who is also the President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Bed Bath & Beyond.

Fundraising

FIDF collects tax-deductible donations through its website and by mail to its New York office. They also host annual gala dinners in certain region. Many high-level Israeli and American officials have spoken recently at the 2006 events, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, and Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon. Current Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also spoke to the New York gala by video.

Notes

References

* [http://www.israelsoldiers.org/ Official site]