By Judy Yuda, Yokneam-Megiddo Partnership Director

Early in 2007 the Partnership office in Yokneam received a request from Jennifer Lotsoff, P2K Coordinator in St. Louis.  Jenn was looking for a "tzadaka" program for a small group of pre-bar-mitzvah boys in St. Louis.  The boys, Noah Oberlander, David Iken and Aitan Groener, had set up their own nonprofit fundraising organization "From Kids to Kids" and were looking for their first project.  They were interested in a special program for kids with special needs in Yokneam-Megiddo, the St. Louis Partnership region in Israel. 

The boys arranged a variety of fund raising activities such as bake sales, garage sales and even took part in the University City Memorial Day Run in St. Louis.  They worked very hard and were extraordinarily successful in their efforts.  The money they raised was topped off by a substantial grant from Noah's great grandparents who had set up a family fund "The Paul and Sally Oberlander Fund" (from Chicago) which specifically supports kids in sport.

All in all, over $13,000 (!) was raised for a number of special education kindergartens in the City of Yokneam. Thanks to the efforts of "Kids to Kids", the children in these kindergartens will enjoy special outdoor encounter activities operated by "Etgarim" – "Challenges"– a unique NGO in Israel that specializes in empowering children and adults with special needs.

The check was personally delivered by Noah Oberlander during his family's recent vacation to Israel on July 2nd.  Noah, together with his mother Sima and three siblings drove to the Shofet Park in the Megiddo region for a morning of fun with children from one of the kindergartens in Yokneam.  They enjoyed special activities planned by the "Etgarim" staff which included rope climbing, pita making on a wood-fire and a walk in the park.  Noah and his friends were presented with many gifts from the City of Yokneam and Partnership 2000, as a very small token of the great work he and his friends did.