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Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces Greater Miami Chapter Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces Greater Miami Chapter Media Kit STC 346 Fall 2015 Erica Strumwasser Table of Contents Backgrounder. 1 Brochure. 2 PowerPoint. 3 E-fyer. 4 Media Advisory. 5 News Release . 6 Newsletter. .. 7 Pitch. 8 Backgrounder: Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces Mission The FIDF initiates and helps support social, educational, cultural and recreational programs and facilities for the young men and women soldiers of Israel who defend the Jewish homeland. The FIDF also provides support for the families of fallen soldiers. What is the IDF? Founded in 1948, the Israel Defense Force is ranked among the most battle- tested armed forces in the world consisting of ground forces, air force, and a navy. Most men and single women are inducted into the IDF at age 18, women for two years and men for three, followed by service in the reserves, men up to age 51 and single women to age 24. The IDF is one of Israeli society's most prominent institutions, influencing the country's economy, culture and political scene. It has helped in six major wars and currently serves to reinforce peace arrangements; ensure overall security in the West Bank in coordination with the Palestinian Authority; spearheading the war against terrorism, both inside Israel and across its borders; and maintaining a deterrent capability to prevent the outbreak of conflicts. Who we are Friends of the Israel Defense Forces was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors, to provide for education and security of the men and women who serve in the Israel Defense Forces as well as the families of fallen soldiers. We are a not-for-profit corporation that operates 15 regional offices in the United States and Panama. The strength of the IDF, which has been guarding the State of Israel since it declared independence in 1948, derives from the selfless determination and great capabilities of the young men and women who form it. Since the soldiers are drafted at 18, those who serve commit to upholding the difficult tasks of defending Israel’s borders and guaranteeing the safety of its people. The Israeli government is responsible for training IDF soldiers and providing them with the necessary tools for their service. FIDF is committed to providing these soldiers with love, support, and care in an effort to ease the burden they carry on behalf of the Jewish community worldwide. How we help The FIDF Young Leadership Greater Miami Chapter’s main goal is to create awareness among the young professionals and support the goals of the Friends of the IDF. Thanks to the growth of our volunteer base and expanding donor base, Young Leadership has experienced unprecedented growth. The combination of fundraising events such as our Annual Poker & Casino Night, the White Party and generous donors give the Young Leadership a very privileged position in allocating funds where our soldiers need it the most. Our annual gala, which is our largest event, brought in $3.2 million in 2014. Some of the great programs our Miami Chapter allocates are sponsoring 18 IMPACT! Scholarships a year to pursue a college education after they finish their military service, building recreational areas at the bases in Israel for the soldiers to use the gym and have a larger wellbeing center and sponsoring flights for Lone Combat Soldiers enabling them to travel back home and visit their loved-ones. How to get involved The various programs FIDF has to offer give our donors many opportunities to reinforce the significant bond between the Jewish community in the United States, the soldiers of the IDF, and the State of Israel. Our website allows you to start your own campaign, plan a mitzvah, and donate to our organization. Contributors are able to make a donation of any amount they desire on the website by clicking Donate at the top of the page. We organize special opportunities for our donors and their families to visit IDF bases while on vacation in Israel. We make it possible to get a tour of the facilities, see the soldiers in action during training exercises, and meet and thank our soldiers in the place that they call home while in service. Anyone is able to get involved and join us in helping better the lives of our heroes. Contact us For more information please visit www.fidf.org or call 212-244-3118. You can also log onto our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FIDFMiami or follow us on twitter @FIDFMIA Mailing address 2040 NE 163rd St., Suite 207 North Miami Beach, FL 33180 Dec. 15, 2015 Advisory For Immediate Release FIDF’s Greater Miami chapter to host annual dinner gala Who: Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Greater Miami chapter What: The 13th annual gala dinner to raise money for the soldiers and families of the fallen soldiers who fought to protect Israel When: 5 p.m. March 3, 2015 Where: Diplomat Resort and Spa, 3555 S. Ocean Drive Hollywood, FL 33019 Attire: Cocktail Attire To attend: Tickets start at $360 and can be purchased at idf.org or by calling 305-354-8233. -30- Media contact: Erica Strumwasser [email protected] 305-555-5555 For Immediate Release News Release Friends of The Israel Defense Forces hosts annual Gala Dinner CORAL GABLES, Fla. (Dec. 15, 2015) – Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Greater Miami Chapter will be holding a dinner gala to raise money to help support the young men and women soldiers of Israel who defend the Jewish homeland. The event will be held at 5 p.m. March 3 at the Diplomat Resort & Spa. The gala will kick off with a silent auction at 5 p.m. then a short reception prior to the main dinner at 6:30 p.m. (Dietary laws will be observed). “This will be greater Miami chapter’s 12th annual dinner gala. We invite all our supporters and new guests to come together to celebrate a great cause. Last year we raised $3.2 million that made a large impact on our soldiers and families of our lost ones. We have such a special night planned and we are thrilled to create such a moving evening for all of our guests,” said Lauren Masuzzo, program coordinator of the FIDF’s greater Miami chapter. This event will offer a great opportunity to meet IDF soldiers and hear the stories of these brave young men and women. All proceeds will be donated to help support educational, social, cultural and recreational programs and facilities for the soldiers and families of the fallen soldiers that defended the land and people of Israel. Tickets for the event start at $360 and can be purchased on FIDF.org. To learn more on the FIDF Greater Miami chapter, call 305-354-8233 or email [email protected]. About FIDF The FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a not-for-profit organization providing and supporting cultural, educational, recreational and social programs for the IDF soldiers. ### Media Contact: Erica Strumwasser Mobile: 305-491-4948 Email: [email protected] Fall THE 2015 www.FIDF.org FIDFJOURNAL This Issue - Danger Zone in Israel pg.1 - Our Local Fighter and Hero pg.2 - Meet our director and CEO pg.2 Frinds of the IDF Danger Zone in Israel FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors OF ISRAELIS ARE to provide for education and LIVING WITHIN wellbeing of the men and women RANGE OF HAMAS’ who serve in the Israel Defense 70% ROCKETS. Forces. We initiate and help sup- port educational, social, cultural and recreational programs and facilities for the young men and THAT’S THE SAME AS... women who defend the Jewish homeland. Get Involved The various programs FIDf has to offer give our donors many oppor- United States Italy France England tunities to reinforce the signifcant bond between the Jewish com- munity in the United States, the soldiers of the IDF, and the State 224 million 42.7 million 44.8 million 45 million of Israel. Everyone is welcome to Americans Italians French English join and we appreciate all of the support. DID YOU KNOW? Nearly six million Israelis are living within range of Hamas rockets? Imagine that! Hamas terrorists are attacking 70% of the people in your country. That’s Israel’s reality. 1 Our Local Fighter and Hero It was the summer of his senior year “I remember walking into the bunk Although he is no longer serving, of high school when Samuel Falic and seeing the bed and thinking, this Falic states that his heart was and made a metamorphic decision that for- is nothing like home.” always will be with Israel and if they ever changed his frame of mind. Afer a couple of days, Falic grew ever needed him to go back he would Falic was born and raised in Miami, more accustomed to the lifestyle and do so without hesitation. Florida, and attended a Jewish day began making friends. “Being a member of the FIDF Great- school throughout his adolescent life. He made one friend in particular er Miami Chapter really made leaving He was constantly surrounded by Jew- named Eden, who helped him with the family I made in aIsrael a lot easi- ish tradition both in the classroom and the transition and took him under his er,” said Falic. Te continuous support at home. He lead a Kosher lifestyle, wing when he had no one else to turn I receive encourages me do all I can to attended shul every Saturday, and tried to. help those back at the bases.” to keep every Shabbat unless he had a While Falic admits that the over- school related activity.
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