FIDF IMPACT! Program Celebrates 18-Year Milestone

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) held a virtual celebration, “The Impact of IMPACT!,” in honor of FIDF’s IMPACT! scholarship program reaching its chai milestone – 18 years of life-changing support. This first-ever online FIDF IMPACT! event took place yesterday. A total of some 1,000 new IMPACT! scholarships were raised surrounding the event, the sum total of which comprises some $16 million.

The event featured Israel’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest Eden Alene, Israeli singer Idan Amedi, and Fauda actor, Yaakov Zada Daniel, a graduate of the FIDF IMPACT! program. During the event, FIDF presented personal success stories of the program's graduates, including Mahmoud Shenan, Director of the Druze Heritage Center; Dr. Amit Zabtani, who specializes in orthopedic surgery at Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital; and Liran Schlack, a doctoral student, scientist, and researcher at the Weizmann Institute.

Also participating in the festive event were Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lt. Gen. (Res.) Gabi Ashkenazi, who donated a scholarship during the event; Israel’s Education Minister Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yoav Galant; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; Director of the FIDF IMPACT! Program, Orna Pesach; and businesswoman Melanie Bronfman, who donated 18 new student scholarships at the event.

Israeli President Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin, and the Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. (Res.) Benjamin (Benny) Gantz, sent recorded videos congratulating the students and graduates on their successes, determination, and deep contributions to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the State of Israel.

FIDF’s four-year scholarships are given to former combat soldiers from lower socio-economic backgrounds, enabling them to achieve their dreams of higher education. This one-of-a-kind program also provides funds to cover soldiers’ living expenses while they study and gives them the unique benefit of direct contact with their FIDF sponsors.

Since the program’s founding in 2002, FIDF has sponsored students from 66 countries of origin. Over 92% of IMPACT! recipients graduate successfully compared to the Israeli national average of 70-81% graduation rate. With the success of the program, some 16,130 students and alumni are represented in nearly every field, and dozens are now donors themselves.

In addition, each scholarship recipient completes 130 hours of community service during each year of their scholarship as a way to give back and help others. Since the inception of the program, IMPACT! students have volunteered over 6.1 million hours of community service, making it the #1 scholarship program in providing community service in Israel.

FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir said, "The IMPACT! scholarship program honors the crucial contributions of IDF combat soldiers to the security of Israel and its citizens, provides equal education opportunity to those with limited financial resources, reduces social disparities, and promotes a more equal society. We are happy and proud to celebrate 18 years of this special program, together with our current students, alumni, donors, and partners in academia and the larger community. I would like to thank the thousands of donors to FIDF and its IMPACT! scholarship program. Beyond the individual gratitude to Israel’s soldiers, this program serves as a bridge connecting American communities to the State of Israel and the IDF.”