PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Friends,
I am proud to report that in American Friends of Neot Kedumim’s 34th year of operation the organization has made excellent progress in reaching its goals, despite natural disasters in the US coupled with nationally documented declines of giving to Israeli charities.

At my first Board of Directors meeting in May, 2005, I articulated broad goals I had set for American Friends of Neot Kedumim (AFNK):

• Significantly increase funds raised in the previous year
• Increase number of educational presentation venues in the US
• Provide an NK newsletter in every mailing
• Establish relationships with Shelikhim (emissaries from Israel) on the East Coast
• Develop a list of donor-naming opportunities in cooperation with NK
• Develop an expanded and more flexible donor database
• Create a corps of active AFNK volunteers
• Identify a new volunteer consultant for biblical gardens in the US
• Place many more NK articles in the media

I am pleased to report progress on all of these fronts. In some cases, we have substantially exceeded our expectations.

The relationship between Neot Kedumim (NK) in Israel and AFNK in the US has become stronger and more strategic. Ongoing working relationships with NK staff have allowed AFNK to expand its overseas support of the work of NK into new areas of operation. For example, AFNK has become a teaching partner with NK by presenting programs across the US, as well as a liaison for bar/bat mitzvah planning.

We have expanded our Board of Directors by adding Cantor Dr. Ramon Tasat, planned AFNK’s first Benefit Concert, under the patronage of the Ambassador from Israel and Mrs. Daniel Ayalon.

With the continued support of our generous donors, AFNK will continue to provide financial support to Neot Kedumim in Israel so that it may indeed continue to live up to the promise of its name: Neot Kedumim--exploring roots in the past in order to build a solid future.

Respectfully submitted,
Paula Tobenfeld,
President, American Friends of Neot Kedumim