Anonymous donor isues $360,000 challenge grant for rebuilding of fire-ravaged Yemin Orde Youth Village

ROCKVILLE, Maryland (Press Release) –Friends of Yemin Orde (FYO), the U.S. fundraising arm of Yemin Orde Youth Village, has announced it received a $360,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor to help offset millions of dollars in rebuilding costs as the Village recovers from severe damage it sustained during a wildfire in northern Israel, December, 2010.

This is the first time that FYO has received a challenge grant specifically designed for its special fire emergency fund.  The fire destroyed 40 percent of the Village including key offices, classrooms, a library, and homes. 

As the fire approached Yemin Orde, all 500 children and staff members and their families were safely evacuated to a nearby Village. It is estimated that it will take two years to fully rebuild the Village. Visit www.yeminorde.org or call 202.237.0286 for information on the fire’s impact on Yemin Orde. 

Michael Frieze, Chair, Friends of Yemin Orde Board of Directors, said the challenge grant will be matched on a dollar for dollar basis, up to a maximum of $90,000 per donor.  He said current estimates have indicated it will take a total of $20 million to rebuild the Village to its original beauty. Yemin Orde is located in the Carmel Forest and is known for the natural splendor that provides a therapeutic sense of serenity for its at-risk children. 

“We still have $2.8 million to raise for our recovery efforts. We’re almost there, but not quite,” Frieze said. “Now, with the help of this amazing challenge grant, we are much closer to achieving our goals and are moving ahead with new energy to help the children of Yemin Orde. The grant doubles the impact of every dollar, thereby, doubling the incentive and inspiration to meet this challenge.”

Donors can give online through the Friends of Yemin Orde website, www.yeminorde.org or mail a check to FYO, 12230 Wilkins Ave., Rockville, MD 20852. There will be a special web page that will track the results of the challenge grant. The grant will provide a match for donations from new donors as well as donations of new dollars from current donors to Yemin Orde.  The challenge grant expires April 10, 2012.

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Preceding provided by Friends of Yemin Orde

 

The children and staff who lost their homes are currently living in temporary pre-fab houses provided by the Israeli government. Daily life at the Village has returned to normalcy for the children although the presence of construction projects will remain part of the scenery for some time. 

 

“We are grateful to the anonymous donor who has given us the gift of this challenge grant. It will empower us to further assist  the Village and the children to realize their dreams,” said Frieze. “There is no greater “mitzvah” than helping to repair the world.”

Yemin Orde Youth Village is not simply one village or one school. It is a special way of living and learning for children who have all suffered trauma or displacement of some kind. It is home, school, and community for more than 500 children from 20 countries and cultivates lifelong lessons in self-esteem, leadership, diversity, and respect.  The ethics, values and traditions of Judaism are reflected in every aspect of the Village.

For more information on the Village and Friends of Yemin Orde, email info@yeminorde.org or call 202.237.0286.