Category: Community

365K NIS Raised at Gala Evening 2016/17

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Just as in years past, Maccabi Tel Aviv held their Annual Gala in Tel Aviv. Present at the event were the Yellow & Blue players, professional staff and over 500 guests including the Club’s sponsors. The Gala Evening’s lead sponsor was HP Indigo while other sponsors included Profit, Yam Yagudaev, Eurodrive, Leaan and IBBLS. This year’s Gala was Maccabi’s third and Lior Suchard was the host of the special evening.

  • עמוס גבאי סמנכ"ל HP אינדיגו

  • ים יוגדאייב

All of the proceeds from the Gala will go to benefit the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and the activities and programs that are done in conjunction with various non-profit organizations around Tel Aviv and Israel. Over the course of the evening, various projects were featured including Special Olympics, Chinuch L’Psagot and the Lone Soldier project together with Michael Levin and Beit Almog Shiloni. There was a Maccabi Ambassador for each program which included, Captain Sheran Yeini, Gal Alberman and Dor Micha.

The evening opened with words from the Owner’s Representative Jack Angelides who spoke about the importance of the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and its activities to the Club’s owner Mitch Goldhar as one of his goals was to use the positive power of football to impact those off of the pitch as well.

“When Mitch Goldhar came to Maccabi he clearly stated that one of his motivations was to make a positive contribution to the community. I hope that the programs and projects of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Foundation and our sponsors will achieve exactly that. Sometimes we forget that people see us as part of their family, and I feel that this is something important and a reminder about the responsibility and commitment that we have to keep improving all of the time. This is both on and off of the pitch. We have to work hard. I believe that this is an important event and together with your help we can significantly influence the lives of many people.”

One of the highlights of the evening was the Season Award winners including the Player of the Season, Goal of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Youth Player of the Season long with the Honorary Lifetime Award. The recipients were chosen by a panel which included former Club President Gideon Brickman, former player and current Club Manager Benny Tabak, Sport Director Jordi Cruyff along with former players Eli Drikes and Boni Ginzburg.

During the event prizes were handed out to the donors including a dinner for two with a pair of players, a private training sessions for 6 children with two players, a VIP Box for 14 guests, a chance to be a part of the Club Photo along with Barak Itzhaki’s shoe that was used to score his famous bicycle kick goal against Maccabi Haifa.

Maccabi’s Emotional Encounter with a Holocaust Survivor

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All across Israel and around the world, Yom HaShoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day is being commentated and of course the Club did so as well. The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation invited Herta Goldman to Kiryat Shalom to tell her story to the Maccabi family.

The 89 year old Goldman began her presentation by speaking to the Under-15 side where she talked about her personal story of survival through hardship and resourcefulness during the Holocaust. Afterwards she met the First Team players and professional staff where she discussed her first days in the Land of Israel and the importance of the establishment of the State for the Jewish People following the Holocaust.

Captain Sheran Yeini presented Goldman a Yellow Jersey as Josh Halickman, the Head of the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation spoke about the connection of the Yellow Star that was worn by the Jews during the Holocaust and the Yellow worn by the players on the pitch as an everlasting memorial to the 6 Million Jews that perished.

Yellow & Blue Passover for the Needy

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This past Friday, The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and Achim L’Semel got together at the Tel Aviv Port to prepare more than 300 food packages for the needy just in time for the Passover Holiday. Close to 200 fans including the Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv Under-15 Club arrived early in the morning, rolled up their sleeves and began by organizing tons of food including Matzot, juice, canned goods, snacks and even toothbrushes into boxes that were then delivered to the recipients all over the area.

Participants were treated to special Maccabi Foundation and Achim L’Semel T-shirts plus a visit by Maccabinio to the delight of the youngsters and adults in attendance. As Yellow & Blue songs played in the background everyone had a fantastic time for a very serious cause.

Good Deeds Day at the Maccabi Foundation

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Good Deeds Day is a constant every single day at the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation, but we went above and beyond to inspire those in need to mark the yearly occasion.

Chinuch L’Psagot, one of the Foundation’s partner organizations enjoyed an exciting event as Eyal Golasa, the Yellow & Blue star midfielder visited the Netanya Branch to talk with the children about the dedication it takes to become a professional footballer. Number 23 signed autographs and took pictures while the Club’s news sponsor, Pizza Prego donated a ton of pies for close to 100 participants!

In addition, a special joint video was produced by the Foundation along with Chinuch L’Psagot to encourage everyone to get involved in this special day.

Good Deeds Day 2017 Video

The Maccabi office staff packed boxes of food for Passover that will be delivered to Holocaust Survivors, the elderly and the needy at the Jaffa Institute close to the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility.

A visit to the Hadasim Youth Village in Even Yehuda was also on tap where Foundation Head Josh Halickman distributed Maccabi gifts to the children from broken homes.

The Foundation also took part in a special breakfast for Holocaust Survivors at Na Laga’at by the Jaffa Port that included gifts and a show.

Over 60 South American Jewish youngsters visit Maccabi

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Maccabi World Union, Maccabi Olami is one of the largest Jewish Sports Organizations in the world and the Maccabi Foundation was happy to once again welcome a group of over 60, 18-19 year-olds from South & Central America to Kiryat Shalom. Coming from countries such as Panama, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and others, the group had the opportunity to experience Foundation Head Josh Halickman’s “The History of the Modern Day State of Israel through Maccabi Tel Aviv”, trained on the pitches with Under-15 Head Coach Amir Sofer and also participated in a Tournament to determine which country had the best footballers present.

Halickman said, “Over the past year the Maccabi Foundation has developed an important relationship with Maccabi Olami, which allows us to reach so many young Jewish people around the world. To see these youngsters enjoying their time at Kiryat Shalom and getting a taste of the Yellow & Blue only increases their relationship and love for Israel and Zionism. They now have a team of their own that they can cheer on to go along with those in their countries of birth and we’re happy that Maccabi is it!”

Way of life: Get to know Maccabinio

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Riki Gabsso, is Maccabi Tel Aviv’s faithful mascot, Maccabinio. We sat down to have a one-on-one with one of the most important part of the Yellow & Blue family:

Desire to be Maccabinio:

“The mascot and in this case Maccabinio is very important to any Club. One of the most important things is that the person inside the costume is someone who is a fan of the team, and I fit that bill.”

Being a woman and being the Mascot:

“I think that the fact that I am a woman in the costume off the mascot is like a startup. It’s very rare, new and the fans are loving it. They all say that I am representing something good and that I am bringing a good side to the game of football especially as a woman.”

Becoming a Maccabi fan:

“My uncle learnt in school with Avi Cohen z”l and he’s been a fan of the team for almost 60 years, so we all became fans because of him. He always wanted me to come to the matches with him. Maccabi is my life, my home and my family.”

Bringing more girls to the stadium:

“There’s a certain stigma to the stadium experience and we have to educate the fans a bit better to understand that there are women, mothers and young girls that are also part of the Maccabi family. I sit with plenty of my girl friends at away matches but there is plenty of work still to do.”

The best part about being Maccabinio:

“Meeting the children. I just love children. It’s such a great feeling to put a smile on the face of a child young or old including adults. I try to bring a special and important energy to the match.

Off of the pitch activities:

“Maccabinio is part of the club in every which way and form. From community activities, visits with children, programs with the players, Maccabinio must be there and be a part of every facet of Maccabi.”

Final words:

“If someone has a dream they should always go for it. I never thought I could be a mascot but here I am and it’s such an amazing privilege which I do with honor and pride. I want to see more girls in the stadium, take pictures with me and of course that we take the Double!”

Teaming up for children in need

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The Box of Dreams organization put out an SOS on social media that there were children in need who wanted to meet their footballing heroes at Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Foundation came to the rescue! In quick order thanks to a tip from Twitter follower Tal Ben Yehuda, Foundation Head Josh Halickman got in touch with the organization and made some kids very, very happy as they each had the chance to meet the Yellow & Blue stars.

Each child took pictures received autographs and also got a gift bag of Maccabi goodies before returning to the Elazraki Children’s Home in Netanya. In addition, there was a child from Perach with his counselor who also had his dream come true as he had the chance to speak to the likes of Tal Ben Chaim, Dor Micha and many more!

The JFS School at Kiryat Shalom

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The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation hosted a group of over 30 Jewish youngsters from the JFS School at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility. The 13-14 year olds are in Israel for a number of months to learn about the country’s heritage as part of their curriculum. The visit to Maccabi included a trip through the Holy Land’s modern day history via Maccabi Tel Aviv from the late 1800’s until the present day thanks to an interactive presentation by Foundation Head Josh Halickman.

Yellow & Blue legend Benny Tabak and current Maccabi manager spoke to the group about his time as a player, while the Club’s Press Officer, Ofer Ronen discussed his role and its importance on a day to day basis as both fielded questions from the interested participants. Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv Under-15 coach Amir Sofer then ran a training session for all of the teens where they learned about what it’s like to be a professional footballer by participating in drills and of course playing a game to top off their visit. A fun time was had by all!

Golasa brings Pre-Purim happiness to Children’s Hospital

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Eyal Golasa, the Yellow & Blue midfielder together with the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation visited children at the Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital this week. Number 23 handed out Maccabi Tel Aviv gifts to kids of all ages while putting smiles on their faces and cheering them up as we close in on the Purim Holiday. Golasa spoke to the children while also spending time with their parents and the hospital staff who appreciated his care and concern.

Here are some of the pictures from Golasa’s visit: