Tel Aviv spends more, per-capita, on education, culture and social welfare than any other Israeli city. It serves as Israel’s center of commerce and higher education. And it’s an important center of Israeli art and culture. But as Ira Riklis knows, there’s another side to Tel Aviv. Nearly forty percent of it residents live in poverty. That’s why he and his family have supported The American Friends of the Tel Aviv Foundation for more than two decades.
The Foundation, which began in 1977, creates projects that provide for the needy and raise the quality of life for city residents. To date, it has raised more than $300 million worldwide, money that had been used to launch more than 300 projects. Other donors have given more than Ira Riklis and his family, but none to date have taken on more projects. The Riklis family has focused their efforts over the years on one neighborhood: Schoonat Ezra. Among other projects, they’ve helped establish parks, playgrounds, kindergartens, science centers and a school with Arts, Science and Library facilities.