Dear friends,
Our recent charity poker tournament became the centerpiece of essential fundraising efforts, while also serving as a symbol of unity and hope. This event follows our tournament in December 2024 that raised $140,000 for the IDFWO.
The poker tables hosted professional players and those sponsored by our local partners, sharing the same vision. Among those who participated in the game were survivors from Kfar Aza, IDFWO orphans, reserve soldiers who had spent more than a year in the reserves, businesspeople, and local celebrities.
During this impactful evening, we were privileged to share information about Shalem projects, especially our partnership with the IDFWO. In total, 88 participating players raised a total of 211,000 Shekels (52,200 EUR).
A quarter of the sum stems from the tournament itself, a quarter is matched by Shalem with your generous help, a third is matched by Isai Scheinberg, one of the most notable poker personalities, and a quarter is matched by various donors who chose to remain anonymous.
Besides raising money, this tournament raised awareness about the IDFWO, Shalem, and our joint projects.
The closure of the tournament took place at 3:30 AM in the bomb shelter where we were sent due to the Yemenite attack on central Israel.
We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all who participated in and supported the event. A special thanks goes out to Doron Ziony, our co-organizer, the team at the "House" poker school for hosting and running a great evening, and to all sponsors who supported the event.
Am Israel Chai,
Anna&Ory
