The Foundation has undertaken assist with the fund of The Sports Therapy Program at Beit Issie Shapiro, a facility located in Ra’anana, a town north of Tel Aviv. Beit Issie Shapiro develops and provides innovative therapies and services for children with disabilities and their families. They also play a leading role in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in society.

Impacting over 30,000 people every year, they were named Israel’s most effective nonprofit in 2011 by efficiency monitor Midot, and are now Special Consultants on Disabilities to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Through its fund raising programs and donations, the Foundation is helping provide the equipment and staffing to support the Sports Therapy Program at Beit Issie Shapiro’s Special Education School serving fifty children ages 6-12 with severe developmental and physical disabilities, including Cerebral Palsy, Autism and more. The Sports Therapy Program enables children with disabilities to significantly improve their motor abilities, their levels of self-confidence and social skills. And, sports therapy is also a great outlet for just having fun. We believe that this is something Jordana would have supported whole heartedly had she been given the opportunity.

The Foundation has undertaken to fund a special program at a facility located in Ra’anana, a town north of Tel Aviv. Beit Issie Shapiro is a national, multi-purpose organization that develops and provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. It has played a leading role in promoting the inclusion of people with special needs in society and is a vigilant advocate for better legal provisions for and with people with special needs.

The Foundation has agreed to help provide the equipment and staffing for a sport related program designed for a small class of 7 special needs children. The aim is to use physical activity as a means of increasing their fitness levels and building personal confidence. The intent of the program is such that this special group of children will feel more confident while attaining greater acceptance with their peers. We believe that this is something Jordana would have supported whole heartedly had she been given the opportunity.

Testimonial

On a trip to Israel almost 5 years ago, I was encouraged by friends to visit Beit Issie Shapiro. Impacting over 30,000 people annually, Beit Issie Shapiro is Israel’s leading organization innovating therapies for children with disabilities and their families. They share their knowledge throughout Israel and promote full inclusion of people with disabilities in society. Beit Issie Shapiro was given the inaugural award as the most effective non-for-profit in Israel and is a Special Consultant on Disabilities to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

I had heard about the work they were doing, but was excited to learn more about the programs, their accomplishments and what was being undertaken. Located just outside Tel Aviv, at the main facility Beit Issie Shapiro works with children and adults with all disabilities and with their families. It is a day facility that focuses on working with the family to learn how to function as a unit. Additionally, there is a satellite facility, the Sindian Early Intervention Center, which is the first comprehensive therapeutic daycare service in Kalansua, an Israeli-Arab community, serving local Arab communities.

Beit Issie Shapiro established a Sports Therapy Program at its Special Education School. It has been unequivocally proven that sports and physical activity is an excellent resource to provide people, especially children, with a more positive awareness of themselves and a confidence they otherwise lack. The Center’s director told me that Physical activity improves one’s self-image, decision-making, self-awareness, sense of ability and overall satisfaction with life.

It was this aspect of what Beit Issie is doing that was most appealing. It would have been something Jordana would have enthusiastically endorsed and perhaps been part of had she seen what they are doing. For these reasons, we have been supporting The Sports Therapy Program at Beit Issie, with funds raised by The Jordana Lokash Foundation.

Your help is, as always, greatly appreciated. This is something we can all feel good about.

Please enjoy the story below of one of the many children we have helped.

Thank you so much,

Paul Lokash