The Israel Awareness Committee of Ottawa launches fundraising campaign
Ottawa, ON, Canada February 15, 2010 — The Israel Awareness Committee of Ottawa (IAC) and Hillel Ottawa: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life are pleased to announce the successful launch of a fundraising campaign for Save a Child’s Heart. On Thursday, February 11, over 100 university students came out to “Party for a Child’s Heart” at The Drink club and lounge. Save a Child’s Heart, based on Holon, Israel, provides lifesaving heart surgeries to children from the developing world.
The party raised neatly $1000 and was organized entirely by students from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, who are members of the Israel Awareness Committee, a non-denominational group dedicated to engaging in debate, discussion, and dialogue on Israeli society, culture, and politics.
Lead organizer Adam Moscoe was inspired to spearhead this campaign after visiting Save a Child’s Heart’s Children’s Home in December. “I was touched by the children, parents, and volunteers at the home. This is Tikkun Olam — the Jewish principle of “repairing the world” — in its highest form,” says Moscoe, who hopes to return as a volunteer this summer.
Among the children currently in Israel is six-year old Woodley Elysee, from Haiti, who received surgery last week to allow oxygen to circulate properly throughout his body. Without SACH, Wadley would likely not have survived past the age of 10.
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Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) is an Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries.
SACH is motivated by the age-old Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world. By mending the hearts of children, regardless of their origin, SACH is contributing to a better and more peaceful future for all of our children.
Since 1995, Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) has treated more than 2,200 children suffering from congenital and rheumatic heart disease aging from infancy to 18 years of age from the “four corners of the Earth” - 36 countries where adequate medical care is unavailable.
40% of the children who underwent cardiac surgery are from Africa; 49% from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan & Iraq; 4% from Moldova, Russia and former USSR and 7% from China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
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Contact Adam Moscoe, head of campaign team, at israelaffairs@hillelottawa.ca
613-620-6892
The Israel Awareness Committee (IAC) is a non-denominational group dedicated to engaging in debate, discussion, and dialogue on Israeli society, culture, and politics. The Israel Awareness Committee is dedicated to promoting a peaceful existence of Israel, the Jewish homeland, representing the entire spectrum of political views and backgrounds and showcasing the political and cultural life of Israel through innovative and engaging programming.
The IAC is affiliated with Hillel Ottawa: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
For more information, contact israelaffairs@hillelottawa.ca