I had the honor of taking part in the organization and production of the event, having been invited to do so by Seth Davis – who serves as the Director of both International Resource Marketing, as well as the Israeli Friends of the Center. Seth attended one of the resource development courses which I taught this year, while serving in his former capacity as Director of Resource Development for the Ashkelon Foundation and other non-profit associations.
The event was an interesting mix of Americans and Israelis, taking place while the Board of Directors of the Tennis Centers was visiting the country. In order to encourage the Israeli participants to contribute to the association, one of the Board members challenged the participants declaring that they would match all funds contributed that evening. One of the two largest donations contributed that evening was by the main guest of honor – Mitchell Goldhar. Mr. Goldhar, the owner of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team, made his contribution in memory of Harold Green, the father of Chairman of the International Board of the organization, one of his closest friends, the Canadian born, Kevin Green. In the course of the evening, about 10 pairs of donors were matched (an Israeli and an American in each pair). Each pair received the names of several other potential donors attending the event, with the task of soliciting them for contributions during the evening.
The program included an open bar and an exhibition tennis game played by the children supported by the Center who were the target population for the evening's contributions. As well, a short film produced especially for the event was shown, and Mr. Golhar, the President of the Israeli Committee and the Director of the International Committee for Resource Development, all spoke. The program was indeed lengthy but the messages conveyed were significant. I was very moved by a surprise dance performance by the Center's children, which was presented mid-evening.
The most impressive aspect from a professional point of view was the combination between the participants' social interactions and the informal personal soliciting which took place during the hour and a half following the exhibition game, which was accompanied by food and beverages. The participants were personally invited by the members of the Israeli Committee by email and received text messages reminding them of the event.
The goal of the event was, as well, to increase the number of members on the Israeli Committee of The Israel Tennis Center in Israel, since the solicitation involved asking for a monetary commitment together with an invitation to be involved.
Kudus to Seth Davis and to the Director of the Israel Tennis Center, Mr. Danny Gali, and to the entire staff who produced the event, for a highly successful evening benefiting Israeli children.
For more information about The Israel Tennis Center: www.israeltenniscenters.org
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