Cultural Life in Ariel

The Ariel Development Fund is deeply involved in the cultural life in Ariel. The Ariel Development Fund provided much of the funding for the construction of the Milken Family Cultural Center, the establishment of a community television studio, an educational radio station, a senior citizen's center and more.

The Milken Family Cultural Center
One of the most important facilities in Ariel today, the Milken Family Cultural Center includes both the Ariel Community Center and the Municipal Library. In the next phase of the project, a Center for Performing Arts will be completed (see new projects)

Community Center
Through the generosity of the Milken Family Foundation, the Ariel Development Fund was able to furnish the entire community center, including activity rooms of all kinds.

Ariel's Media Center
The Ariel Development Fund, with the help of American Friends of Ariel, was able to provide the funds needed to establish a community television studio. Recently, through a generous gift from GoodNews World in Fort Worth, Texas, Ariel Development Fund has also provided Ariel's Community Center with a new educational radio station, Good News Radio 106FM.
Operated by volunteers, the media center has truly become a hub of community activity. Today, Ariel Development Fund is seeking donors to help upgrade the Television Studio equipment (see new projects).

Municipal Library
The modern, beautifully furnished Municipal Library is truly a source of pride in Ariel. Many friends of Ariel donate books in honor or in memory of special people in their lives.
Book Bank USA and the Kluger family of San Francisco have played a major role in providing this library, as well as Ariel school libraries, with urgently needed books.

Local Talent
Ariel is rich in local talent and the Ariel Development Fund has chosen to help these wonderful residents develop their talents. Ariel Development Fund projects range from support for "With a Song in Our Hearts", the senior citizens' choir and "Lahakon Ariel", the city's teenage entertainment troupe to funding youth exchange programs, authors, musicians and athletes.

Sports and Recreational Projects
Ariel Development Fund has provided the funds that help improve the quality of life in Ariel. In so many ways:

•  Bleachers and dressing rooms for the soccer field
•  Parks, playgrounds and landscaping
•  Uniforms for sports leagues

Education

Educating the younger generation is and always has been the first priority for both the City of Ariel and the Ariel Development Fund.

Pre-schools
The Ariel Development Fund has helped with building, furnishing and equipping Ariel's pre-schools. Good friends of Ariel, like the Mallel family of Los Angeles and the Shainhouse family of Toronto have helped Ariel build and furnish pre-schools. In addition, many visitors to Ariel bring toys for the children of our community.

Schools
Ariel's four elementary schools, 3 Junior high school and Comprehensive High School have benefited greatly from donations to the Ariel Development Fund: laboratories, computers and software, furnishings, books and gymnastic equipment and special programs are only a few of the projects funded by Friends of Ariel. ADF has also helped provide books and school supplies to the children of needy Ariel families so that they can begin the school year on an even keel with their peers.
ADF also helps high school students participate in the "March for the Living", an important element in their Jewish education (see new projects)

Science Park
Through the generosity of Sharona Justman and Gary Rubenstein, a mini- hydroelectric station has been built in the Bernard Milken Elementary School yard. The station includes a turbine, water pools and waterfalls and a computer - operated control room. Established with the help of the Ministry of Education and the Israel Electric Company, the Science Park helps children understand energy and its uses.

ACCENT
The Ariel Center for Communication and Education Networking Technology

The first phase of Mayor Ron Nachman's vision of Ariel as Israel's "Smart City" was made possible by a generous grant from the Milken Family Foundation. The project, "Education Through Technology", began with the creation of a central hub to which all Ariel schools are connected and interconnected. Over 700 computers, both PC's and NC's (donated by Oracle's Promise) in Ariel's school system bring the student - computer ratio to 5:1 and allow schoolchildren both Internet and Intranet access.

"Education Through Technology" has made Ariel's school system the most technologically advanced in Israel.

In addition, all Ariel teaching staff members have been trained in computer and internet use. Recently, the pre-schools in Ariel and the College of Judea and Samaria have been connected to ACCENT, as well.

Scholarships
Every year the Ariel Development Fund grants scholarships to both teachers and students, residents of Ariel. The Teacher's Incentive Program, an endowment created by the Milken Family Foundation, fosters excellence in teaching in order to enrich the education of the children of Ariel.
The Ariel Development Fund also helps Ariel students go on to higher education by awarding annual scholarships for undergraduate studies at the College of Judea and Samaria and other accredited universities in Israel.

Health Services

The Ariel Development Fund has long been involved in the development of improved health services for the people of Ariel. Generous contributions from friends of Ariel around the world have enabled Ariel Development Fund to purchase ambulances, establish an emergency medical center (in partnership with Red Magen David) and provided vital medical equipment to the and local medical clinics. 

Social Welfare Services

It is said that you can judge a community by how it treats its weaker sectors. Many Israeli cities are willing to make do with limited government budget. The Ariel Development Fund has enabled the City of Ariel to do so much more.

Child Development Center
Annually, the Child Development Center treats over 120 children with developmental problems and learning disabilities. Occupational, physical, speech and art therapists and special education teachers provide Ariel families with vital services for their children. Working together with the city's educational staff to ensure early diagnosis of developmental problems.
The generous support of such wonderful friends as Faith Bible Chapel, the Minto Foundation and the Milken Family Foundation, has enabled the Ariel Development Fund to provide this important project for the people of Ariel.

Sheltered Workshop
The handicapped are often regarded as unemployable, a stigma that not only denies their families income but also strips them of a sense of purpose. With the help of the Ariel Development Fund, Ariel's welfare department has established a Sheltered Workshop where some 25 disabled residents are employed 6 hours a day. The jobs created by the Sheltered Workshop not only provide 25 families with a stable income but also restore to the workers their pride and dignity.
The City of Ariel would be proud to name this vital enterprise in memory or honor of someone special in your life (see Get Involved)

Services for the Aged - Senior Citizen Center
The "Warm Hearts" Center for senior citizens serves over 700 Russian immigrants today, making it the largest center of its kind in Israel. Located in the center of the city, the "Warm Hearts", club was established by the City's welfare department in partnership with the Ariel Development Fund, which undertook building and furnishing the center. In addition, the fund lends support to the members of the Warm Hearts Club choir, who perform for many of the visitors to Ariel.

Day Care Center for Seniors
Every year, the number of senior citizens in Ariel grows. Fortunately, the majority are healthy and lead active lives. Some, however, need special care. For these senior citizens, the Social Welfare Department of Ariel, with the help of the Israeli Lottery Authority, has established a Day Care Center for Senior Citizens. Through the generous assistance of Dr. & Mrs. Herb Segal of Florida, the Ariel Development Fund was able to help furnish the facility and make it more appropriate to the needs of these seniors. 

Immigrant Absorption

In the last decade, Ariel has absorbed over 7,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union. With the help of both American and European friends, Christians and Jews, the Ariel Development Fund has played an important role in easing the absorption process in many ways, including:

• Renovating and furnishing temporary housing for new immigrant families upon their arrival in Ariel. This gives both the Absorption Department and the family time to find suitable permanent housing.
• First Sabra - Gifts from friends of Ariel enable the Ariel Development Fund to provide new immigrants with basic furnishings and the layette for the first Sabra (Native Israeli) botn in their family.
• Enrichment classes in Hebrew, English and mathematical terminology for immigrant children: this special program helps to close the gap between immigrant youngsters and their Israeli peers.

Religious Services

There are 13 congregations in Ariel, each with their own special needs. The Ariel Development Fund has helped complete the construction of synagogues, purchased "Sifrei Torah", Torah scrolls and helped furnish many of these important community facilities.
In addition, donations to the Ariel Development Fund have helped provide Passover food packages to needy families and new immigrants and lent support to every stage of the cycle of Jewish life from circumcision to burial.

If you would like to find out how you can get involved, just click This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it GET INVOLVED