Dear friends, It is with great pride that I share with you our 2016 Annual Report, my last as the Chairman of Birthright Israel Foundation’s Board of Directors. As I look back on my three years as Chair, I am truly amazed by how far we have come as an organization. When the year began, our board, energized by the celebration of Birthright Israel’s 15th year and the arrival of the 500,000th participant, set out on a course to truly engage our members in all aspects of the Birthright Israel Foundation. Our goal was to make the board an integral part of raising the necessary funds to ensure the gift of Birthright Israel remains available for generations to come. With new committees formed, contact lists ready to share and event dates saved on our calendars, we were ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work. With this energy, many members of our board traveled for our first Board of Directors meeting in Israel. Over the course of three days, we bonded as a group and connected to the Birthright Israel program on a deeper level, reminding us why we are all committed to this transformative program. Though our time was short and action packed, there are moments that I know will stay with us forever. In addition to our board retreat, Israel served as the backdrop for the Foundation's first Campaign Ambassadors Mission this summer. Several lay leaders from across the country traveled together to get an up close and personal look at the Birthright Israel program, meet with groups, explore the Innovation Center in Tel Aviv, and meet with members of the IDF. Our campaign ambassadors walked away with a better understanding of how to communicate with current and prospective donors in their communities to encourage their support of Birthright Israel and the Jewish future. As the summer came to a close, details fell into place for the Birthright Israel Foundation 2016 Gala that I was lucky enough to be honored at with the inaugural Founders Award. The Founders Award was created to honor the legacy of program founders Charles Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt, with the Birthright Israel leaders of today and tomorrow, a group I am so privileged to be a part of. More than 400 supporters joined together at Cipriani 25 in New York City for an inspiring evening that included meaningful alumni testimonials reminding us why we all care so deeply about Birthright Israel. I was truly humbled by the experience of being honored and am so appreciative of the tremendous job the Gala Chairs, Laurie Blitzer & Sam Levine, Ulrika & Joel Citron and Nancy & Morris Offit and our Vice and Honorary Chairs did to make the evening as successful as it was. The Gala served as our best event to date, raising $3.2 million dollars – a night none of us will forget. 2016 was also a year marked by change as we prepared to usher in new leadership at Birthright Israel Foundation. After four years, David Fisher stepped down as President to begin a new chapter in his career. We are so grateful to David for the dedication, leadership, friendship, and passion he gave to Birthright Israel and to the staff at the Foundation. Thank you, David. Please join me in welcoming Israel (“Izzy”) Tapoohi, who has taken over the helm as President & CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation. Izzy comes to us after five years as President & CEO at Israel Bonds. We know he will lead Birthright Israel Foundation strongly into the next chapter. As I end my term as Chair, I am thrilled to pass the torch to Thomas D. Stern. As a member of our board since 2014, Tom has also served as a member of Birthright Israel Foundation’s Executive Committee and Finance Committee, as well as on the Planning Committee of Birthright Israel, which provides strategic guidance on all elements of the Birthright Israel program. Joining Tom as Vice Chairs are Stephen M. Siderow and Philip Rosen. I join the entire board when I say I am confident in the tremendous job you will do and look forward to all that is ahead. I would not have been able to serve as Chair without the partnership and friendship of my Vice Chair, Laurie Blitzer. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do. Both Laurie and I will remain on the board and cannot wait to see all that is in store for 2017. Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you a wonderful new year.
JOSHUA NASH, BOARD CHAIR BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION 4
