American Friends of Libi

American Friends of Libi is the American affiliate of the Libi Fund founded during the second intifada:
:The US chapter was established in Boston by small group of concerned people at the height of the second intifada. Their initial goal was supplying protective gear for the soldiers battling terrorism. Chapters and activists have spread throughout the country.American Friends of Libi Website Our Partners. Accessed 19 March 2015.
Other friends of Libi groups exist in Canada, France, South Africa and Mexico. According to the American Friends of Libi the formation of two further Friends of Libi groups in the UK and Argentina is in process.
==Activities==
===Sponsoring Tours of IDF Soldiers===
In March 2015, American Friends of Libi and Chabad co-sponsored an event held at the University if Miami. At the event IDF Captain Oron Kalmanzon spoke of his experiences on during Operation Protective Edge (Israel's 2014 assault on the Gaza strip).Danielle Reisman, 'IDF Tour of Duty: Six American Cities in Six Days', Breaking Israel News, 9 March 2015, accessed 5 June 2015. The event was part of a larger tour organised by American Friends of Libi which saw Kalanzon speak to audiences in Miami FL, Columbus OH, Livingston NJ, Fairfield CT, Boston MA and Washington DC.Danielle Reisman, 'IDF Tour of Duty: Six American Cities in Six Days', Breaking Israel News, 9 March 2015, accessed 5 June 2015. Director John Grossman was present at the Miami event and remarked that:
:It was incredible to hear what it was really like fighting in Gaza this summer... Hearing Captain Kalmanzon was nothing like what you heard on TV or read in the newspapers... Everywhere he went Captain Kalmanzon impressed people with his moving stories from the front lines. Even though the war has been over for six months, people had so many questions which shows just how connected and concerned American Jews, and non-Jews, are for the welfare of Israel’s soldiers... I’m happy we had the chance to educate more people about just how strong and moral the Israeli army is. With army officers like Captain Kalmanzon, we can rest easier at night knowing that the State of Israel is in kind and capable hands.Danielle Reisman, 'IDF Tour of Duty: Six American Cities in Six Days', Breaking Israel News, 9 March 2015, accessed 5 June 2015.
As part of his tour Kalmanzon met with Christian Zionists such as Lois Petty of Christian Friends of Israel.Staff, 'Israeli Soldier speaks to groups across the United States on Operation Protective Edge', The Jewish Link, 9 March 2015, accessed 5 June 2015.
==='Stay at Home Gala Event'===
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In March 2015 the organisation launched a 'Stay at Home Gala Event' to raise funds for the IDF.Danielle Reisman, 'New IDF Film Featured at LIBI “Stay at Home Gala Event” [VIDEO]', Breaking Israel News, 16 March 2015, accessed 29 May 2015. In an apparent dig at the elaborate gala fundraisers of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Director John Grossman commented that:
:Many other organizations are throwing over the top, extravagant dinners... We wanted to show our supporters how far we go to keep our costs down to pass along as much as possible directly to the soldiers, so were hosting a stay at home dinner.Danielle Reisman, 'New IDF Film Featured at LIBI “Stay at Home Gala Event” [VIDEO]', Breaking Israel News, 16 March 2015, accessed 29 May 2015.
As part of the event the American Friends of Libi partnered with Jerusalem U to offer free online viewing of an IDF feature film, 'Beneath the Helmet', to donors. Remarking on the film John Grossman commented that:
:Opponents of Israel paint a grim picture of Israel’s men and women in uniform. But beneath every helmet there is an untold story. It is this story that the film seeks to share and its our privilege to be sharing this important film with the supporters of the Israeli army.Danielle Reisman, 'New IDF Film Featured at LIBI “Stay at Home Gala Event” [VIDEO]', Breaking Israel News, 16 March 2015, accessed 29 May 2015.
===Shaldag Foundation===
The Shaldag Foundation is an Israeli organisation which raises funds for the Shaldag Unit, an elite commando unit of the Israeli Air Force.Shaldag Foundation Website Homepage English. Accessed 5 June 2015. American donations to the foundation are made through the American Friends of Libi.Shaldag Foundation Website Donors from USA. Accessed 5 June 2015.
==Funding and Finances== 
				
Revenue of American Friends of Libi in $Data compiled from filings of Form 990s 2004 - 2013. 
																						
																						
 	2004 	2005 	2006 	2007			2008		2009		2010		2011		2012 2013 Total 2004-2013	
Total Revenue 	297,618 	537,757 	654,778 	436,199 	190,405 	763,330		1,165,826		1,146,205		2,284,998		1,549,176		 9,026,292
	
				
Foundation Donors to American Friends of Libi. Amounts in US$.Data compiled from filings of Form 990s 2004 - 2013. 
																						
																																			
 Foundation 	2002 	2003 	2004 	2005 	2006 	2007 	2008		2009		2010		2011	2012		2013 Total 2002-2013	 
 Abner Levy Foundation 	 -	 -	 0	 0	 0		 10,000		 0 0		 26 		 26		 0		 0 	10,052
 Azeez Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	0		 0		 5,000		 2,500		 0	 7,500	 
 Charles K. and Patricia F. Ribakoff Charitable Trust 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	10,000		 0		 0		 0		 -		 10,000
 Davis Family Charitable Foundation 	 -	 -	 -	 -	 0		 0 		 0	 	0		 0		 10,000		 0		 0		 10,000
 Education Foundation for Old Safed 	 -	 -	 -	 -	 -		 0		 0	 	0		 0		 0		 0		 10,000		 10,000
 Hager Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	0		 0		 10,000		 0		 0	 10,000	 
 Hahn Family Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	500		 0		 0		 0		 0	 500	 
 Jack N. and Lilyan Mandel Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 50,000	 25,000		 25,000 		 0	 	25,000		 0		 0		 0		 0		 125,000
 Jacobson Family Foundation Trust 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	0		 365,000		 0		 510,000		 20,000		 895,000
 Jane and Daniel Och Family Foundation 	 -	 -	 -	 -	 -		 - 		 0	 	0		 0		 0		 125,000		 185,000		 310,000
 Jewish Communal Fund 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 180		 180		 0	 	0		 0		 0		 5,100		 5,300		 10,760
 Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0		 0	 	0		 10,000		 0		 0		 -		 10,000
 Lizzie and Jonathan M. Tisch Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 1,000		 0 		 0	 	 0		 0		 0		 0		 0		 1,000
 Klarman Family Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	50,000		 175,000		 175,000		 175,000		 25,000		 600,000
 Lee Perelstine Kagan Charitable Trust 	 0	 0	 0	 1,000	 1,000		 0 		 620	 	500		 500		 500		 0		 0		 3,000
 Louis Leibowitz Memorial Charitable Trust 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0		 0	 	0		 0		 0		 0		 1,000		 1,000
 Menlo Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	0		 0		 0		 5,000		 -	 5,000	 
 Peter Singer Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 500		 0		 0	 	200		 0		 200		 0		 0		 900
 Raymond Klein Charitable Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	0		 0		 0		 0		 50,000		 50,000
 Razoo Foundation 	 -	 -	 -	 -	 -		 - 		 -	 	-		 0		 0		 27,372		 62,270		 89,642
 Richard and Ellen Sandler Family Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	0		 6,000		 0		 0		 -		 6,000
 Robert Cohn and Ruth Cohn Family Foundation 	 -	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	750		 0		 0		 0		 0		 750
 Robert and Susan Weiss Family Foundation 	 -	 -	 -	 -	 -		 - 		 0	 	10,000		 0		 1,000		 0		 -		 11,000
 Spencer Raphael Jaffe Charitable Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 5,000		 0 		 0	 	 575		 500		 1,000		 500		 0		 7,575
 Stephen B. Klein Charitable Foundation 	 -	 -	 -	 0	 0		 0		 0	 	0		 25,000		 0		 0		 0		 25,000
 Weiss Charitable Foundation 	 0	 0	 0	 0	 0		 0 		 0	 	0		 0		 0		 0		 50,000	 50,000	 
 
==People== 
===Directors (Circa 2013)===
Dr. John Grossman (Chairman) | Shimshon Erenfeld (Vice Chairman and Treasurer) | Paul Lipof (Director) | Yael Lipof (Director) | Bernice Heinstein (Director) | Betty Feldman (Director) | Robert Finkel (Director) | Nazy Nazarian (Director) | Sarah Biser (Director) | Howard Furmansky (Director) | David Golden (Director) | Rabbi Mendy Fellig
===Staff (Circa 2015)===
Dr. John Grossman (Chairman) | Shimshon Erenfeld (Vice Chairman) | David Golden | Paul Lipof
==Affiliations==
*The Libi Fund
==Contact==
:Address Circa 2013:
:420 Harvard Street
:Brookline, MA
:02446
:Phone: (617) 738 0500
:Website: http://friendsoflibi.org/
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/LIBIUSA
:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LibiFundOrg
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/friendsoflibi
===Notes===
Category:Israel