Back on June 14 we shared the story of Avi Ben-Jano who has spent his life in a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy. Avi lives in his own apartment at Shalhevet in Jerusalem which allows him independent living and the companionship of other disabled adults living nearby.

Through the encouragement of Miriam Freier, Shalhevet’s dynamic founder, Avi has been able to pursue his passion of film production and has created several films that have been shown locally.

Avi’s latest project is a documentary featuring the moving story of Meir who was paralyzed following an accident. The movie tells Meir’s story and how he and the love of his life, Lee, are raising a family. The film shows that while we may not control what happens in life, we do have the tools to cope with what life brings.

When the Good People Fund was approached about possible funding for the trailer Avi needs to produce so that he could present the film at a prestigious conference on disabilities here in the States, we were happy to provide a modest amount of tzedakah money to make that possible.

This morning we received word that the trailer was completed. Take a look…http://youtu.be/2CrGn4KTMZU. It is certainly a moving story.

Sometimes we are offered an opportunity to step in and help in places where we would never think a need exists. That was the case this past winter during our time in Israel. Despite the hectic nature of these trips one thing is never in short supply-the chance to meet inspiring people.

Golan Jamber and Matan Zere were two of those inspirations. Both young men are Ethiopian army officers and represent the very best – fine character, vision and a strong concern for their fellow Ethiopians as they struggle to succeed in their adopted home.

Israeli Ethiopians, by and large, often fall into the lowest economic strata. As a people, they are seen as quiet and unassuming; many think them weak and limited in ability.

Golan and Matan want to change that perception and when we met they shared their vision of offering the very best Ethiopian IDF officers an opportunity to study the art of debate at a well-known Israeli center. Learning to debate will empower these young people in new ways, tapping into their potential and developing strength and conviction; ultimately, making them even better leaders in their community.

The Good People Fund was asked to help with this goal by covering half the cost of the course…even Golan and Matan recognized the need for participants to make an investment of their own in this venture.

After several months making arrangements, Golan sent this note today. We are proud that the Good People Fund could be part of this effort…

One year after the first meeting of the debate group we are about to set to a new task, this task would not have started without your help.

We promise to make the best of this course and try to lift our community to a new horizon.

How many of us get “carried away” listening to our favorite piece of music? The experience is often transformative—listening to my favorite piece of classical music as I write, I’m filled with joy and a sense of peace.

Back in 2006, social worker Dan Cohen wondered about the power of music and began to ask nursing homes if they used iPods to provide personalized music for residents. To his surprise, not one facility said yes. How was it that this little marvel of technology was not being used to provide nursing home residents with music and its therapeutic benefits? So he set about to change all that.

We recently met Dan and learned about Music and Memory, his organization that brings personalized music via iPods to elderly individuals suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s and other isolating conditions, living in nursing homes and other settings. The music taps deep memories and enables the listener to reconnect to the world, often with dramatic results. The organization provides training programs for nursing home professionals and others to set up the personalized iPod system and evaluate the program’s effect.

Music and Memory has the potential to truly improve quality of life for so many. If you have any doubts, watch this clip from the documentary about Music and Memory’s work, Alive Inside. Henry will make you a believer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZQf0p73QM&feature=player_embedded#

The Good People Fund has joined Dan’s revolution. Our grant will help underwrite the development of a new web site to promote Music and Memory’s program and share how each of us, whether caregiver, healthcare professional or even Hebrew school classes or b’nai mitzvah kids looking for a project, can join the revolution.

… My goal is to teach these kids about the social and environmental justice issues surrounding them and to motivate them to become agents of positive change on these issues… Lead Farmer Matt, Amir

David Fox loved summer camp when he was a kid. In fact, that love continued into his teen years when he eventually moved from camper to counselor. In addition to his feelings about camp, David also felt compelled to make the world a better place. It was while he was in college that he realized that there was a way he could combine both of these passions in one dynamic program. That program is Amir, which trains young adults, through the medium of gardening, to teach and inspire campers about ways to build a more just world and to relieve hunger and poverty.

While the program runs primarily in summer camps (there are 11 this summer) it has also been successful in faith communities and inner-city community centers. Anyone who has been to camp knows the power of experiential learning and Amir’s work is just that. The planning, planting and harvesting of a camp garden, under the leadership of the Amir-trained Lead Farmer, exposes campers to environmentalism, sustainable gardening, social justice, and so much more. The Garden to Pantry Initiative connects the camp to local food pantries and when crops are harvested they are turned over to the pantries. (Sometimes even after camp season ends and the harvest continues.)

Meeting David was a special experience. He is thoughtful and deeply committed to this model. The Good People Fund’s challenge grant was just what he needed to build a strong foundation for Amir.

A few weeks ago we enjoyed lunch with Irene Zola, founder of LiLY-Lifeforce in Later Years, one of our favorite programs that brings neighborhood volunteers into the lives of lonely, at-risk elders struggling to stay in their own homes.

Irene shared her frustration at not being able to locate a donated laptop for Sylvia*, an 85 year old who lives alone in the big city. She knew that Sylvia’s quality of life would vastly improve if she had a small laptop to use to reach out to her very small circle of family in a far off place, or even just to “surf the web” and see the world. We thought that this was something the Good People Fund could make happen with a small tzedakah investment so instructed Irene to find a suitable laptop for Sylvia to use.

Irene just wrote us…enjoy…

Sylvia, an 85 year old who lives alone…, opened her door on July 4th, a hot and heavy summer day in NYC, in an apartment without air conditioning, to what to her was the greatest joy! Although she must live on a song, financially speaking, she now would have the means to communicate more regularly with her family living so far away, to receive email notes and, importantly for her, pictures and the possibility of skyping. (A neighbor said that she could bring her computer over to skype anytime.)…In addition, she was delighted that she could now take out dvd movies from the library to watch on her screen. Finally, she is a poet (of sorts). She is thrilled to have the means to pursue her creative writing! She has many uses planned for her computer, not the least of which I am imagining, the feeling that she is a 25 year old, parking herself in Starbuck’s and opening up her computer!!!

…This time, we would also like to thank the donor who graciously donated money so that my two children can attend summer camp this year. Now, D. and R. will be able to experience their summer vacation as a real vacation, with all of the fun that relates to summer camp activities. As a result of their kindness and graciousness, this summer my children will be able to enjoy, goof off, jump around, splash around, meet new friends, sing and be happy – all because someone special has allowed them to do this.

D., R. and their mother H.

When this note arrived today from Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Israel we knew that our tzedakah investment for summer camp was a success in every way. Only a mother can really put into words what camp may mean to their kids. After all, isn’t that what it is all about…splashing, singing and goofing off?