Federation Star - May 2019

18 Federation Star May 2019
Thinking about joining the
Men’s Cultural Alliance?
Here’s what our current members say…
“MCA creates a vital and
active association of Jewish
men who keep one another
busy learning, playing,
exploring the community
and supporting one
another.”
Steve Yussen
Member Since 2014
“MCA takes the random out
of retirement. It’s
a consistent group of friends
sharing good times together!”
Gene Goldenziel
Member Since 2013
”When we moved to Naples I
was really worried that my
husband would have a hard
time meeting people.
Because of MCA, he has more
friends than I ever could have
imagined."
Zelda Rosenkrantz
Wife of MCA Member
“MCA, through its members
and wonderful program
offerings, contributes greatly to
making Naples a special place
to live. ”
Marc Saperstein
Member Since 2014
"Coming from a Midwest
community with a small Jewish
population, I am pleased that
MCA offers me so many
different opportunities to get
to know fellow Jews from
around the country."
Bruce Sherman
Member Since 2016
Want to meet other Jewish men in Naples?
Want to enjoy life in a way you
didn’t know was possible?
Then go to www.mcanaples.org
and join the MCA!
COMMUNITY FOCUS
Israel Tennis Centers
exhibition in Naples
On Monday, March 18, the student
exhibition team from the
Israel Tennis Centers Foundation
hit the courts of the Players Club
and Spa at Lely Resort in Naples in front
of a sold-out crowd.
This exhibition brought the ITC
Winter 2019 Exhibition Tour to a
wonderful close, after three weeks of
appearances across Florida. The event,
chaired by Shelley and Mark Schloss
and in partnership with the Jewish Federation
of Greater Naples, had close to
Event chairs Shelley and Mark Schloss
200 people in attendance to meet the
multicultural group of four Israeli junior
tennis teammates: Koral, a 17-year-old
girl from Tel Aviv and the #1 player in
Koral
her age group; Jasmine, a 10-year-old
Christian Arab girl from Akko; Ariel,
a 10-year-old boy from Tel Aviv; and
Tuval, a 19-year-old young man also
from Tel Aviv.
As a special honor for this exhibition,
the team was coached by ITC
Alumnus and former #18 in the world
in Singles, Amos Mansdorf, who was
one of the first children
to participate in the ITC
when it opened in 1976.
During their U.S. appearances,
in addition to
exhibiting their skills on
court, these youth ambassadors
shared their
personal stories about the
impact of the ITC on their
lives off court, on their
families and the communities
in which they live.
“The positive impact
through counseling, tutoring,
providing meals
and athletics for these
children and on their lives
is heartwarming, and so
important,” stated Mark
Schloss, Co-Chair of the
ITC Naples exhibition.
“We were so thrilled to
have record-breaking
GRANT RECIPIENT
attendance at this year’s event and have
the opportunity for more people in the
community to meet and hear from these
extraordinary children.”
The Israel Tennis Centers Foundation
was founded in 1976, and today is
one on the largest social service organizations
for children in Israel, serving
over 20,000 Israeli children annually.
The 14 centers stretch from Kiryat
Shmona in the north to Beer Sheva in the
south. Many of these centers are in underprivileged
areas, providing children
with a safe, structured and nurturing
environment.
“We were very impressed with the
commitment of ITC to children and
young people of all ethnicities and religions.
Specifically, we liked the way
ITC uses sport and education as common
ground to build a brighter future
for these young people, and believes this
approach could provide the groundwork
to forge peace in the region,” stated
Julie and Tom Pearson, who attended
the event.
ITC empowers children through
sports and education. Its social impact
programs serve a wide range of children,
including youth at risk, immigrants and
children with special needs, as well as
those with developmental and physical
disabilities. The ITC’s highly successful
Coexistence Program brings children
together from different religions and
backgrounds on one court.
“Coming on tour in the U.S. is a
life-changing opportunity for these
children,” said Jacqueline Glodstein,
EVP Global Development, Israel Tennis
Centers. “They get to meet the people
who support them and gain a greater
understanding of what’s possible for
their future.”
The organization holds exhibition
cycles several times a year in various
parts of North America. The next tour
will begin in June with stops in the U.S.
and Canada.
For more information about the Israel
Tennis Centers Foundation, please
visit www.israeltenniscenters.org.
Jasmine
Tuval (at right)
(Top row) Jacqueline Glodstein, EVP, ITC; Amos Mansdorf; Koral; Tuval; Yoni Yair, VP, ITC;
(bottom row) Ariel, Jasmine (photos courtesy Ted Epstein)
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