2026
Program Report Prepared for Laney & Harold and The Becker Family
Twinned Kindergarten Program Photos 2
ITEC Program Report | 2026
INDEX
Celebrating ITEC’s 50th Anniversary
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ITEC Akko
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ITEC CEO
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Director of Social Impact
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Center Manager & Social Impact Coordinator, ITEC Akko
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Coach Letter, ITEC Akko
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Coach Letter, ITEC Akko
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Drawings from Kids | Twinned Kindergarten
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Twinned Kindergarten Program Photos 4
ITEC Program Report | 2026
Celebrating ITEC’s 50th Anniversary For 50 years, ITEC has been transforming lives and strengthening communities across Israel—and you are an important part of that story. Your partnership helps ensure that children have access to the opportunities, supportive relationships, and safe spaces they need to grow, build confidence, and thrive. As we celebrate this milestone year, we are deeply grateful to have you alongside us. Your support not only makes a difference in the lives of children today; it helps carry forward a legacy of opportunity, resilience, and belonging for generations to come. 50 YEARS of transforming lives through the power of sports and educaiton – using life skills learned through tennis to help children grown and thrive on and off the court 20,000+ CHILDREN participate in the wide range of social impact programs we offer that build self-confidence, empower the disadvantaged, and build bridges between disparate communities. 25 STRATEGIC LOCATIONS across Israel with an emphasis on forging deep community roots in underserved areas. $4.5 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS delivered annually help ensure that financial circumstances never determine whether a child can participate, grow, and pursue their potential.
500,000+ OF ISRAEL’s CHILDREN have graced our centers, discovered new pathways through tennis and education, and carried forward valuable life lessons along the way. 500+ GRADUATES have received full scholarships to U.S. colleges and universities, opening pathways to higher education and future opportunity. 50+ COMPETITIVE CHAMPIONS have risen through ITEC to compete on the national and international stage, proudly representing Israel around the world. ZERO TOLERANCE FOR BIGOTRY means every ITEC center is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where children can flourish regardless of social status, religion, ethnicity, or background.
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Israel Tennis & Education Centers Akko Located on the northern Mediterranean coast, the ancient city of Akko is one of Israel’s most diverse, with Jews, Muslims, and Christians living side by side. ITEC Akko provides a safe and welcoming space where children learn to play, grow, and succeed together, with the Living Together program at its heart. Alongside its social impact initiatives, the center also hosts prestigious national and international tennis tournaments, connecting Akko to the global stage.
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ITEC Program Report | 2026
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Eyal Taoz Global CEO Dear Laney & Harold, In my role as CEO, I have seen firsthand the impact of your support on the lives of children and families across Israel. I personally cherish and deeply appreciate your longstanding partnership with ITEC since 2015, including your generous support of the Twinned Kindergarten Program since 2022. As we reflect on the recent two and half years, we have navigated unprecedented challenges. Facing the realities of an ongoing war, we have been called upon to operate not just as a sports organization, but as a critical pillar of support for our community. This has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging periods in our organization’s history. From the sudden disruption of daily operations
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and the necessity of closing centers in high-risk areas, to the personal toll taken on our staff members, some of whom lost their homes, we have faced challenges that threatened our continuity. Yet the resilience of the ITEC community has been our hallmark. By prioritizing safety and adaptability, we have ensured that our centers remained beacons of stability, providing a vital sense of normalcy to thousands of children and families during a time of extreme uncertainty. The most significant sign of our success is that children continue to show up at our centers. We have maintained high attendance rates where it is safe to do so and continued to provide tennis education alongside critical social impact programs and mental health support. This adaptability has proven
ITEC Program Report | 2026
that our infrastructure is resilient and that our staff is capable of extraordinary performance under pressure. We are not just surviving; we are upholding our commitment to excellence. Our mission to use tennis as a tool for social development, fostering coexistence, and empowering youth from all backgrounds is more urgent today than ever before. In a society currently grappling with division and trauma, ITEC serves as a rare, neutral ground where values like discipline, inclusion, and mutual respect are cultivated daily. We are building the next generation, equipping them with the confidence needed to overcome challenges that extend far beyond the court. This sustained impact is directly tied to the unwavering commitment of our donors and partners. Your support
is the vital resource that allows us to expand our operations, provide emergency relief to our affected staff, and ensure that no child is left behind due to the crisis. With your partnership, we are ensuring that ITEC remains a national asset, capable of meeting current needs while laying the groundwork for longterm growth. As we move forward, we are strengthened by your trust. Thank you for standing with us, believing in our purpose, and helping us turn obstacles into opportunities for growth. With deep gratitude, Eyal Taoz Global CEO
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Shuki Rajman Director of Social Impact Programs Dear Laney & Harold,
Your support enables us to:
I would like to express our sincere gratitude for your meaningful and ongoing support of our unique programs – Living Together & Twinned Kindergarten.
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This program is designed to promote encounters, understanding, and cooperation between different communities in Israeli society, while creating shared spaces of sport, education, and values.
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At its core, the program is based on the belief that human connection, shared experiences, and joint activity are the foundation for a more tolerant and united society. Despite the significant challenges we are facing due to the ongoing war, we have not given up on programs that connect between different cultures and religions. This is a complex and demanding initiative, yet its outcomes are deeply meaningful and consistently inspiring. Especially during these difficult times, we are proud to see Jewish and Arab children meeting, playing together, smiling, and simply enjoying each other’s company. They are able to set aside differences and challenges and experience moments of cooperation, respect, and shared joy.
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Operate mixed-group programs throughout the year Provide professional guidance and educational staff Organize meetings, special events, and educational activities Develop educational and valuesbased content Maintain the organizational and operational framework of the program
We aim to expand the Twin Kindergartens model to additional communities and further deepen its impact in building a more shared, inclusive, and respectful society. We thank you for your trust and partnership. Thanks to your support, many children are given the opportunity to meet others, live together in shared spaces, and build a future based on understanding, respect, and hope. Sincerely, Shuki Rajman Director of Social Impact Programs
ITEC Program Report | 2026
Living Together & Twinned Kindergarten Overview & Scope Today, the program includes approximately 245 participants, from kindergarten age up to age 15 operating across 6 centers throughout the country. The program is built on structured and ongoing meetings between children from different communities who are paired throughout the year. The main focus of the program is learning about the culture of the other, creating open dialogue, and mutual understanding. The children learn to play together despite differences and disagreements, and deepen their connection through meaningful encounters that also include exposure to each other’s holidays, traditions, and cultural backgrounds.
Program Structure The children participate in regular meetings throughout the year within mixed-group frameworks. Each session is guided by a professional staff team and includes sports activities, group games, facilitated dialogue, and valuesbased educational activities. The groups in the program are mixed groups, and all activities are designed as cooperative play. The children play with one another rather than against one another, with the goal of strengthening connection, teamwork, and genuine interpersonal relationships. The meetings are structured to ensure the development of real, long-term relationships rather than one-time encounters, building trust and ongoing cooperation over time.
Outcomes and Impact We continue to witness significant impact on both children and communities: • • • •
Creation of friendships between children from different communities Greater openness to diversity and mutual acceptance Improved ability to cooperate even in moments of disagreement Shared experiences that foster equality and mutual understanding
In addition, the program also influences adults—parents and educational staff— who are exposed to a living model of shared society in practice. 11
Center Manager & Social Impact Coordinator, ITEC Akko Dear Laney & Harold, Thanks to your support, the Twin Kindergartens Program in Akko provides Jewish and Arab children with a unique opportunity to come together through sports, play, and shared experiences. These early encounters help build friendships, foster appreciation for one another, and create meaningful connections that encourage understanding and living together. The program serves approximately 130 children from the Shazar and Al Amal schools, who travel each week to the Akko Tennis & Education Center to participate in joint activities. Through play, teamwork, and shared positive experiences, the children have the opportunity to get to know one another in a positive and natural environment, building connections that transcend cultural and linguistic differences. The program is led by a diverse professional team of Jewish and Arab coaches: Idan Yifrach, Naama Cohen, Mohammed Dib, and Miriam Abu Fadaly. Together, they model the values at the heart of the program through their daily collaboration and partnership. 12
Their leadership demonstrates to the children that people from different backgrounds can learn, work, and grow together while supporting one another. The significance of this initiative is especially profound in Akko, a unique mixed city where Jewish and Arab communities live side by side. In the aftermath of the war and the security challenges experienced throughout the country, creating safe, welcoming spaces where children from both communities can come together has become more important than ever. Through their time on the tennis court, the children build positive relationships, overcome fears and misconceptions, and experience the joy of playing, learning, and succeeding together. Unfortunately, due to the war and ongoing security situation throughout the year, it was not possible to hold all of the planned sessions. To date, only a small number of the planned sessions have been able to take place. Yet even within this limited number of gatherings, the enthusiasm and engagement of both the children and their educators have been
ITEC Program Report | 2026
remarkable. The sessions have fostered meaningful interactions among participants, and the children have enthusiastically taken part in shared sports activities that strengthened their sense of connection, belonging, and friendship. Beyond the activities themselves, the project creates opportunities for children to meet peers they might not otherwise encounter, helping them become more comfortable with one another and encouraging openness, curiosity, and trust. We believe that experiences such as these can have a lasting impact, shaping how children view their neighbors, their community, and the world around them.
Thank you for your partnership, your dedication, and your belief in the importance of this work. The experiences created through this program give children the chance to connect, learn from one another, and create memories that will stay with them long after they leave the tennis court. With sincere appreciation, Zehava Aharon Social Impact Coordinator, ITEC Akko
Your support and commitment make this work possible. By investing in these children, you are helping create opportunities for friendship, confidence, and positive shared experiences that can have a lasting impact on their lives. At a time when our society faces significant challenges, your partnership sends a powerful message: that bringing children together in a supportive environment can help lay the foundation for a stronger and more hopeful future. 13
Miriam Abu Fadali Coach, ITEC Akko Dear Laney & Harold, My name is Miriam Abu Fadali, and I am a coach at ITEC Akko. Through my work, I have the privilege of meeting children and families from many different backgrounds, and these daily interactions remind me just how unique and diverse the city of Akko truly is. They also remind me how important it is to create meaningful opportunities for connection between the communities that call this city home. The Twinned Kindergartens Program is, in my view, one of the most powerful examples of how those connections can begin at an early age. When Jewish and Arab children meet at a stage in life before prejudices and social barriers have had the chance to take root, they simply see one another as children.
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They play together, laugh together, learn together, and discover that they have far more in common than they may have imagined. Having grown up in Akko, I have watched the city change over the years. While living in a mixed city brings complexity, it also creates countless opportunities for people from different communities to meet and learn from one another. Today, I believe it is more important than ever not to rely solely on chance encounters, but to create intentional spaces where children can build positive and lasting relationships in a safe and supportive environment. One of the most meaningful moments I witness in this program is the gradual transformation that takes place during each meeting. Children often arrive feeling a little
ITEC Program Report | 2026
shy or uncertain, but little by little they begin to open up to one another. I especially remember one session when the Jewish and Arab children initially stayed within their own groups. As the activities progressed, two children from different backgrounds connected through a shared game. At first, they simply sat side by side. Then they started cooperating, and by the end of the session they were actively seeking each other out, eager to continue playing together. It may seem like a small moment, but in my eyes, these are exactly the moments from which meaningful relationships grow. I believe that bringing children together at such a young age is an investment in the future of Akko. The Twinned Kindergartens Program allows children to get to know the people who live alongside them, to
see the person behind the identity, and to create positive shared memories that can stay with them for years to come. At the same time, the program offers parents and the wider community an opportunity to see that connection between different groups is not only possible, it is natural, meaningful, and important. For this reason, I view the Twinned Kindergartens Program as an initiative of tremendous value to our city, and I believe it is important to continue strengthening and expanding it wherever possible. With appreciation, Miriam Abu Fadali Coach, ITEC Akko
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ITEC Program Report | 2026
Idan Yifrach Coach, ITEC Akko Dear Laney & Harold, My name is Idan, and I am a coach at the Akko Tennis & Education Center. As part of my work at the center, I have had the opportunity to take part in the Twinned Kindergartens Program, which brings Jewish and Arab children from Akko together through shared activities and tennis. What I appreciate most about this program is its simplicity. The children come to the court to play, learn, and have fun, and along the way they meet children whom they might not otherwise have the chance to get to know in their everyday lives. Akko is a city where Jews and Arabs live side by side, but simply living in the same city does not always mean truly knowing one another. That is why I believe these encounters at such a young age are so meaningful. At this age, connections can develop naturally, without preconceptions and without the baggage that we, as adults, sometimes carry with us. One moment that stands out in my memory involved two children, one Jewish and one Arab, who each arrived with the friends they already knew from their own kindergarten. During the activity, they were paired together for
a doubles exercise. At first, there was very little interaction between them. But as the session progressed, they began helping one another, laughing together, and encouraging each other. By the next meeting, I noticed them naturally seeking each other out and hoping to be paired together again. To me, that captures the essence of this program. We may be teaching the children how to play tennis, but along the way they are learning something much greater: how to get to know one another, how to accept differences, how to work together, and how to see first and foremost the child standing in front of them. As a coach, it is incredibly meaningful to be part of a program like this and to witness how sports can create genuine connections from such an early age. I believe that the more opportunities we create for children in Akko to come together in this way, the more we can positively influence not only the children themselves but also the community in which they will grow up. With appreciation, Idan Yifrach Coach, ITEC Akko
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Thank You, From The Children in Israel!
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ITEC Program Report | 2026
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Israel Tennis & Education Centers 3275 West Hillsboro Boulevard, Suite 102 Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 | (954) 480-6333 EIN: 13-2961273
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