Hoops 4 Israel

08 October 2010

H4I Volunteer Dave Borins is making sweet music! LIVE!

Dave Borins has been a committed volunteer to Hoops 4 Israel since 2008 and has recently been stepping up his influence in the Jewish community through an elite social media consultancy role to UJA Federation in an effort to bring more love to our homeland Israel online. Although Dave's altruism and contribution back to the Jewish community has been exemplary since his Birthright Israel trip in 2006, his real passion is his love for creating music and performing for all types of audiences. Although we cannot truly do justice for the impact Dave has had on the Canadian music scene, feel free to follow this link to the recent article published by the Canadian Jewish News.

Amazing Stat on Dave's Musical Efforts:

In just 2 years he has performed in over 250 shows!

Borins on the cover of his last album: 'The Lucky Ones' in 2009

Borins has embarked on a career defining decision to create a LIVE album October 20th & 21st at one of the most legendary venues friends can go to see a gig in Toronto - Hugh's Room. Apparently, the recording will be live, with the entrance fee to the show going towards the creation of this independent album. Not only do we encourage you to come support one of Toronto's best Jewish musicians, but use this opportunity as a night to network and bring some friends as Hugh's room has great food and room to make a night of it at.

Borins singing the national anthem at H4I in 2009

For more info or to hear some tracks by Dave Borins and his eclectic musical colleagues, please visit www.daveborins.com

22 June 2010

B.Y.O.B. (Birthright on Bat Yam) - Going Strong!!!

Photos by: Michael Rajzman

With over 500 young Jewish adults coming through Bat Yam this spring and summer as part of a new initiative in conjunction with United Israel Appeal of Canada, Canada Israel Experience trips with Taglit-Birthright & Hoops 4 Israel; the social action encounters have brought new perspective and nachas into the hearts of these dynamic children of this vulnerable community. UJA Federation of Greater Toronto's sister-city for the past two years has been Bat Yam - as several fundraising and now grassroots initiatives are cropping up to bring support to the youth of this growing city.

Birthright Israel participants visiting the community within Bat Yam on June 2nd, 2010

Founder of Hoops 4 Israel in Toronto, Canada - Dave Goodman greets the kids!

The visit to Bat Yam gives young Jewish adults from Canada a glimpse into the lives of these young children who have to face significant challenges to assimilate and adapt to Israeli society. Many children living in Bat Yam have only moved to Israel in the past 1-4 years and are still going through the transition phase of life. The CIE Taglit-Birthright time with these Ethiopian-Israeli youth give them a better idea of how difficult adolescence can be during a life of transition and difficult cultural change.

Over 80 care packages were made for IDF soldiers who are stationed

away from family during their service on bases throughout Israel.

Bat Yam youth really taking to the Canadians playfulness and durability

Over 50% of these children come from families relying on social welfare services

40% of these children are categorized as 'at-risk' and 1 in 4 will drop out of high school

B.Y.O.B., an initiative to bring participants of TBI to visit the community and bring tangible goods to enhance these children's lives. If you have any of the following and would like to have them shipped to Bat Yam via CIE trips, please contact goodman@hoops4israel.com:

school supplies
musical instruments
sports equipment
gently used or new clothing

17 June 2010

Oh what a night!! Jam 4 Israel 2010

Photos by: Giordano Ciampini

On Thursday, June 10th, 2010, the Hoops 4 Israel charity hosted its first official after-party to celebrate another year of fundraising success that will wholly benefit the vulnerable Ethiopian-Israeli community in Bat Yam. Jam 4 Israel, H4I's sister-project, added another $29,000 of fundraising revenue and packed the London Tap House with over 575 attendees supporting Israel in a great time of need. Just one week prior to the party, the international media condemned Israel for the controversial decision to board flotilla filled with "humanitarian aid" intended for citizens of Gaza.

Although Israel's acts were also seen as justified to guarantee the safety of its own population and to ensure that weapons were not secretly hidden aboard the flotilla, the majority of international coverage of this happening did not agree. Widespread demonstrations demonizing Israel took place in nations around the world.

Jam 4 Israel was a timely event that demonstrated young Jews in the Diaspora coming together to celebrate Israel's right to exist and defend itself in the wake of virulent condemnation. It is for this reason that Jam 4 Israel stood for much more than just a celebration, but rather, a solidarity rally!

Event Chairs & Organizers (Top: Josh Howard, Elissa Grossman {Founder of J4I} & Dave Goodman)

Bottom: Rob Altbaum (Social Chair of Jam 4 Israel 2010)

Event Sponsors: George & Kitty Grossman and Jamie & Rami Benayon

The event showcased some home-grown talent with Keys N Krates, DJ Applescratch and DJ J.T. mixing a plethora of urban and top 40 beats and keeping the crowd bumping until after last call. Thank you to one of our event sponsors - Sole Power Productions and Magen Boys Entertainment for pulling the show together for us on such tight timelines!

Keys N Krates tearing it up (above)

DJ J.T. (below) opened the night on the tables, with DJ Applescratch - both donating their skills to the night's events for free - what mensches!

Mini Bball Shootout was donated in kind by Hart Entertainment for J4I attendees use on the rooftop patio

King David's Pizza was also donated in kind to bring in some extra fundraising revenue

for our friends in Bat Yam!

J4I Committee Member Lauren Ashley and friend Brad Silverberg

J4I meets H4I:

Elissa says: 'Who knows what can happen?'

Dave says: 'Happiness!'

A great big thank you to our event sponsors, attendees, committee members and event chairs for making the inaugural Jam4Israel a smash hit! Looking forward to upping the enterprise in 2011!!

11 April 2010

Hoops 4 Israel 2010 - Gameday - April 4th @ Hoopdome

Photos by: Giordano Ciampini

EVENT CHAIRS (L-R): Daniel Winberg, Eden Pollock, Aaron Collins, Erin Cohanim, Dave Goodman, Jon Ordon (missing)

Sunday, April 4th, 2010 marked the fourth annual Hoops 4 Israel event held at Toronto's HOOPDOME for a day of bball madness in support of Bat Yam, Israel and the vulnerable Ethiopian-Israeli youth through UJA of Greater TO and BAC. Above, Dan Winberg, Eden Pollock, Jon Ordon (edited in), Erin Cohanim and Dave Goodman (BAC staff) formed the executive committee of the H4I 30+ volunteer organizing committee. Over $102,000 was grossed for this event and over 190 volunteer participants and 56 volunteer committee members and gameday volunteers took part in the day's events.

Men's A Division Winners: Ryan Tevel, Omri Dor, Josh Mann & Paul Ceresne

Women's Division A Winners: Amy Wilchesky, Lesley Suchter, Amanda Suchter and Laura Wilchesky

hold top prize clothing graciously donated by Erin Kleinberg Designs.

Women A Division Runner's Up: Julie Kovac, Elise Kovac, Shayla Diamond (Top Individual Fundraiser), Lisa Smuskowitz.

Men's B Division Champs: Itamar Halevy, Justin Hummel, Gidon Frank, Viktor Vitebski

Event In Kind Sponsor - Jian Magen of Magen Boys Entertainment

Team Riocan: Evan Sadofsky, Corey Shemuel, Jeremy Freedman (Top Individual Fundraiser) and David Mualin.

H4I 2010 Top Individual Fundraisers (L-R): Mikey Singer, Robert Wise, Michelle Masters, Joseph Wise, Dave Isaacman, Jamie Goodman, Jeremy Mack, Evan Taerk, Daniel Sultan, Nicole Plener, Andrew Damelin, Jeremy Freedman, Shayla Diamond & Jason Bitton (1st Place Fundraiser).

Thank you so much for going the extra mile and making H4I reach the next level of fundraising impact in conjunction with UJA & Bat Yam!

Hoops 4 Israel's first Dunk Contest - sponsored by the fundraising efforts of Jam 4 Israel's: Elissa Grossman. Above is Alex Borins dunking over Top Fundraiser Jason Bitton. Below is Evan Taerk - the innaugural 'Jam 4 Israel' Dunk Contest Winner.

H4I's annual 3 ball contest with winner Jesse Solomon sealing the deal in the final round!

H4I Allstar Rookie Volunteer - Sarah Brager through the mesh

A glimpse at part of the prize table - over $32,000 of goods and services were donated in kind by various Toronto companies to help keep H4I costs below 8% of fundraising revenue (our lowest ratio since 2007) and take H4I to the next level with an amazing offering of food, amenities and rewards!

Thank you greatly to all in kind sponsors - your involvement and contribution - big or small made a difference in enhancing our event to reward our volunteer participants for their fundraising efforts!

Above: H4I Founder, Dave Goodman addresses the players and fans.

Below: Team BAC snaps a team shot: Shauna Waltman, Shira Webber & DG.

Ari Ditkofsky (H4I 2009 Top Fundraiser & 2010 Captain Finalist) distributing the rock

Mike Gilbert - H4I Vet throws down a lefty-windmill on the 8ft Jam 4 Israel contest

Jon Corbin of Corbin Visual who donated a huge amount of time and expertise in marketing H4I through video and is capturing the testimonials of Richard Madras (Zerofootprint Ambassador) with Gameday host - Dave Borins on the importance of measuring your consumption and reducing your carbon footprint.

Hoops 4 Israel received carbon offset credits generously donated by Zerofootprint to officially execute a Carbon Neutral event in 2010. Eco-consciousness and sustainability were themes of H4I 2010, as other measures such as water jugs instead of individual plastic water bottles were distributed for hydration. The involvement of a corporate partner in Zerofootprint was a means to educate H4I constituents of the importance to live a sustainable lifestyle and having a lesser impact on the environment through Jewish community events and involvement.