The Walder Foundation, a Chicago-based family foundation, announced its commitment to provide $3.6 million in Israel emergency grants in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ massacre in Israel on October 7. An initial round of more than three dozen grants totaling $1.15 million have already been awarded, many of which respond to emergency medical and humanitarian needs, including providing food, shelter, and other vital support for the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have been displaced from their homes for over two months.
The Foundation granted $118,000 to the Jewish Agency for Israel to support Operation Falcon, a logistical “magic carpet” that was established to quickly purchase, transport, and distribute civil rescue and medical supplies to Israel, primarily from the United States. A $72,000 grant to American Friends of Magen David Adom will assist with emergency medical response in Israel. A $25,000 grant to the American Friends of Migdal Ohr is supporting relief efforts for families evacuated from Southern Israel and the thousands of orphans and children with special needs in the Migdal Ohr community.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and are focusing our Israel emergency grant-making on mental health and security – areas in which we already fund at the local level and have close partners,” said Elizabeth Walder, President and Executive Director of the Walder Foundation. “Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in Israel, and we want them to know that we support them during this difficult time.”
Grants to Aish Global, Colel Chabad, Ohr Torah Stone Institutions of Israel and Nishmat demonstrate the Walder Foundation’s broad support across the spectrum of Orthodoxy in Israel, and beyond. For example, a grant to ATIDA, an organization that recruits and trains Haredi women as data science engineers who then are hired by the IDF and security companies, provides economic support to Haredi families while also strengthening Israel’s security. A small percentage of the grants were funded through the Walder Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund at Fidelity Charitable.
“We view many of these grants as unity grants,” said Walder. “That’s what we’re all about – bringing the breadth of Orthodox communities and beyond together, especially during this difficult time.”
A strong believer in collaboration, the Foundation awarded $360,000 to the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, to support the JUF Israel Emergency Fund and provide funds to JUF partners on the ground in Israel, including Leket Israel, Latet Humanitarian Aid, and HIAS. The Foundation also provided support continued advocacy efforts on behalf of the remaining hostages and their families through Bring Hersh Home, an effort founded by the family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who has Chicago roots.
“We are grateful to work in partnership with our dedicated colleagues at the JUF to help Israel in its time of need,” said Jenni Richton, Walder Foundation’s Program Director for Jewish Life. “JUF’s ability to mobilize quickly and show their strength during this crisis has been invaluable.”
As a result of the war in Israel, antisemitism has become an increasing threat on college campuses, in local town halls, and in everyday encounters. Combatting antisemitism is one of the Foundation’s four Jewish Life focus areas, and the Foundation is ramping up its work to combat antisemitism locally and nationally due to the current climate.
Another key area of focus for the Foundation’s Jewish Life pillar is improving mental health. Several of the emergency Israel grants were earmarked toward initiatives to help Israelis access mental health care. A $75,000 grant to the Israeli Center for Addiction, for example, is supporting the expert team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health professionals as they provide trauma relief and mental health support to the impacted communities of Kfar Aza survivors and survivors of the Nova Music Festival.
The Walder Foundation is committed to continuing to work with its partners on the ground locally and in Israel to identify and fund evolving needs amidst the ongoing war and recovery period. “We’re looking to pace ourselves over time because the needs will be evolving and emerging over time,” said Walder. “We will stay the course.”
About the Walder Foundation
The Walder Foundation is a family foundation based in Skokie, Illinois, that champions Chicago and invests in Jewish life, science innovation, environmental sustainability, the performing arts, and migration and immigrant communities. Founded by Joseph and Elizabeth Walder, the Walder Foundation’s mission is to uplift local communities and elevate Chicagoland’s contributions to the world. Learn more about the Walder Foundation by visiting walderfoundation.org or following the Walder Foundation on LinkedIn and Facebook.
