by Yurianna Mikolay, Executive Director
Ocean Reef Community Foundation
Thanks to member generosity, we are already about to make our first grants to our partner organizations described here! Look for the details soon in the Ocean Reef Press.
In response to a wave of Member outreach in the days following the October 7 terrorist attacks, the Ocean Reef Community Foundation Israel Relief Fund was established to demonstrate solidarity with and provide humanitarian relief to Israel through US-based nonprofit organizations.
ORCF Chairman Bill Nutt emphasized, “This is certainly about the funding, but it is not all about the funding. It’s about saying something loudly of our support for Israel, and finding a meaningful way to benefit those who have been so badly harmed, in spirit as well as physically.”
He notes that when there is a crisis outside the scope of our local All Charities effort, such as the disasters in Haiti that touched so many Ocean Reef employee families, the Foundation steps up to offer Members a thoughtful and effective way to respond.
The Foundation is working alongside the interfaith community of Chapel congregations to create such a response. In this case, it is a conduit for the community to show support for Israel and our friends and neighbors in the local Jewish congregation, who are so deeply personally impacted.
- Click here to read Reverend Henley’s recent Ocean Reef Press article “Israel: We Need To Pay Attention,” 10/27/2023
- Click here to read Michael Weiss’ article “Community Unites in Solidarity: Remembering Kristallnacht & Support of Israel at Ocean Reef Chapel & Fellowship Center,” in yesterday’s Ocean Reef Press, 11/3/2023
The Israel Relief Fund administered by the Foundation Executive Committee will benefit a slate of well-established, highly credible and expert relief organizations, which may change as needs evolve.
Initial partners include the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Israel Emergency Fund, which is prioritizing basic needs for impacted families, the elderly and homebound; cash grants for critical supplies; emergency medical services, supplies and equipment; evacuation assistance for communities under fire; and trauma relief for first responders, the injured and families whose relatives were directly impacted.
Many members will recognize another partner, The Isaiah Projects, and its leader — former head of Christian-Judeo Relations for Israel and frequent guest at the Ocean Reef Chapel, David Nekrutman. The organization is on the ground helping in communities near the Gaza border directly impacted by missile attacks with basic needs, evacuation assistance, emergency response trauma packages, mourners’ tents and protective gear for first responders.
A third initial partner is the American Friends of Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, which operates blood drives and supports medical first responders providing lifesaving treatment in the midst of rocket attack and gunfire.
To join the Foundation in standing with Israel by making a tax-deductible donation to the Israel Relief Fund, mail your check made payable to the Ocean Reef Community Foundation with “Israel” in the memo line to 35 Ocean Reef Drive, Ste. 148, Key Largo, FL 33037. For more information and/ or to make a donation from your ORCF Donor Advised Fund, please contact the Foundation at 305-367-4707 or ymikolay@oceanreef.com.
