Fire Recovery Challenge Grant -
UPDATE & GOOD NEWS!
FYO Announces $360,000
Challenge Grant to Help Fund Recovery Efforts At Yemin Orde
Jewish National Fund is first
major organization to make significant gift toward challenge grant’s goal
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We are pleased to report that Friends of Yemin Orde has met a $360,000 challenge
match from an anonymous donor aimed to help offset millions of dollars in
rebuilding costs for fire damage
sustained last year at Yemin Orde Youth Village. This challenge match was the
first grant designed specifically for the fire emergency fund. The fire, which
struck Yemin Orde on Dec. 3, 2010, destroyed 40 percent of the Village including
key offices, classrooms, a library, and homes. Thank you to our community of
generous donors for their commitment to Yemin Orde and for their support of
Israel and its next generation of leaders.
Yet we still have financial challenges that loom ahead. Funds are still needed
as the Village faces a $1.5 million funding gap to fully complete its
Master Plan for new construction and
design elements at Yemin Orde.
“We still have $1.5 million to raise for our recovery efforts. We’re almost
there, but not quite,” said Michael Frieze, Co-Chair of the Board, Friends of
Yemin Orde. “This grant helped us move much closer to achieving our goals, and
we are grateful to the anonymous donor who gave us this opportunity. There is no
greater “mitzvah” than helping to repair the world.”
The $1.5 million funding gap is in addition to the $6 million that Friends of
Yemin Orde raises annually to sustain the Village and reach out to additional
villages through Yemin Orde Educational Initiatives. The Village’s fire
insurance policy covered a good share of the initial recovery costs and the
Israeli government also provided aid to underwrite a portion of the expenses.
But there is still a $1.5 million gap between funds raised and actual expenses.
It is estimated that it will take two years to fully rebuild the Village.
Estimates are that it will take a total of $21 million to repair the Village’s
infrastructure, rebuild key buildings, and replace the greenery to restore Yemin
Orde to its original beauty. Yemin Orde is located in the Carmel Forest and is
known for the natural splendor that provides a therapeutic sense of serenity for
its at-risk children.
In December 2010, as the fire approached
Yemin Orde, all 500 children and staff members and their families were safely
evacuated to a nearby youth village.
Yemin Orde Youth Village is not simply one village or one school. It is a special way of living and learning for children who have all suffered trauma or displacement of some kind. It is home, school, and community for more than 500 children from 20 countries and cultivates lifelong lessons in self-esteem, leadership, diversity, and respect. The ethics, values and traditions of Judaism are reflected in every aspect of the Village.