I am excited to be participating in the Dream Israel Teen Initiative and raising funds for important projects in Israel. I have always enjoyed working with children and I am currently volunteering with special needs children both in my Jewish community and my school community. I also mentor weekly at my local elementary school. The money that I'm raising will go towards funding Sderot Indoor Recreation Center. Sderot is a town in the Gaza Strip, where residents endure continued rocket attacks and always need to be within 15 seconds of a bomb shelter. This often times leads to psychological trauma, especially for the children growing up under these constant attacks. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) built a 21,000sq secure indoor playground and community center from 300 tons of steel. This acts as a bomb shelter and safe haven, and provides a place for the children and their parents to experience a sense of normalcy. It is visited daily by hundreds of children of all ages and has become a very important part of the Sderot community. It makes me happy to know these children will be protected and taken care of in these very challenging times.

If I meet my fundraising goal, JNF will provide me with a grant towards my own Israel travel experience, ensuring my opportunity to meet Israelis whose lives have been changed due to our support, and to explore my own connection to the land and people of Israel. Please consider supporting this important initiative and my efforts to meet my fundraising goal.