July 16, 2014 8:02am
JERUSALEM (JTA) —The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust announced a major grant to Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans-Beit Halochem last week. It will go to help disabled Israeli army veterans and their families.
The $750,000 grant will go to the Beit Halochem-Tel Aviv, which provides services for disabled Israeli military veterans. The grant is to provide funding for the creation of a professional hydrotherapy facility there and for renovations to the overall pool facilities.
The Beit Halochem center in Tel Aviv serves about 5,500 disabled army veterans living in the center of the country, as well as about 13,000 members of the veterans’ immediate families. The center provides rehabilitation services, community activities, scholarship opportunities, and a place for the families to spend time together.
Since the Helmsley Charitable Trust began awarding grants to Israel in 2009, over $112 million has been committed to charitable organizations, including scientific research, health care and communications.
“Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans-Beit Halochem is very grateful for this show of concern by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust,” notes Michael Leichtling, Chair of FIDV. “This grant will truly change the lives of severely wounded veterans, and survivors of terror attacks. The new hydrotherapy pool will enhance the healing process for these veterans, and do so in a state-of-the-art facility. They will be able to heal and recover in dignity. Thank you.”