“Thank you, Naples. We did it!”

By Jennifer Milton, Senior National Communications Manager

Jewish National Fund-USA’s leadership have thanked the Naples’ philanthropic community for its generosity and support in enabling the organization to achieve its $1 billion fundraising goal. Powered by its partners (donors) and ambassadors (lay leaders), the fundraising achievement is fueling the philanthropy’s investments that build a strong, vibrant future for the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives and Zionist education.

“Our One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade initiative has enabled us to positively change the entire trajectory of Israel’s Negev and Galilee,” said Jewish National Fund-USA Naples Board President David Braverman. “Behind every dollar raised is a life changed, a child given hope, and an entire community uplifted through high quality-of-life opportunities that allow them to thrive.”

Driven by a 122-year-old mission, Jewish National Fund-USA connects Naples’ next generation to Israel, creates infrastructure and programs that support ecology, people with disabilities, research and development and heritage site preservation while operating a fully accredited study abroad experience at its Alexander Muss High School in Israel.

Philanthropists from Naples and surrounding regions attended Jewish National Fund-USA’s National Conference in Boston last November.

Jewish National Fund-USA Director, Western Florida and Orlando, Joshua Mellits added, “Our goals are bold and our vision is clear. Through the construction of fortified schools, medical centers, parks, playgrounds and R&D centers, we are attracting a new generation of pioneers to Israel’s frontier regions in the Negev and Galilee. And we do all this while supporting over 60,000 Israelis with disabilities in addition to creating resilience centers and therapy facilities for Israeli communities dealing with the stresses of living in the Gaza Envelope.”

Driven by the momentum of its latest fundraising achievement, thousands of philanthropists in Naples and across the U.S. plan to attend the organization’s Global Conference for Israel (Nov. 30-Dec. 3) in Denver, Colorado, where they will celebrate the organization's achievements, meet with the people benefiting from their philanthropy, hear from prominent speakers including the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, and learn about the philanthropy’s next big campaign to be unveiled during the historic extravaganza. Register today at jnf.org/global.

For more information, contact Jewish National Fund-USA Director, Western Florida and Orlando, Joshua Mellits at jmellits@jnf.org