Israel Tennis Centers Foundation Installs New Officers

The Israel Tennis Centers Foundation recently installed both a new International Chairman and a new International Treasurer to lead their International Board. Both have been major financial supporters and long time supporters of the organization in a number of important roles.

New York, New York (PRWEB) December 18, 2012

During the recent ITC International Board meetings at the ITC Ramat Hasharon, Israel, Lawrence H. Greenspon of Longboat Key, Florida, Ashville, North Carolina and Chicago, Illinois was installed as International Chair of the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation. In addition, Thomas E. Bernstein of Longboat Key, Florida and Pittsburgh, PA became the organization's new International Treasurer.

President of LDR Industries, Inc. a plumbing fixtures and supplies manufacturer located in Chicago, Mr. Greenspon has served on the International and US boards of the ITC since 2003 as endowment chair and international treasurer. Over the years, he has organized many ITC exhibitions both in Longboat Key/Sarasota and in Chicago raising over $1,000,000. The new restaurant and pavilion for the ITC Ramat Hasharon, Israel, was dedicated by Mr. Greenspon in 2011; he also established the Larry Greenspon Tennis Tournament for young players. When asked why he became involved with the ITC initially, Larry said, " I did it for the kids”. A highlight of Mr. Greenspon's involvement with the organization has been the hosting the team of Israeli children who visit the United States every year to participate in fund raising exhibitions. Children who might never have a chance to travel to the US due to their "disadvantaged circumstances" have made their way into his heart . When you visit Greenspon's home in Longboat Key, Florida, prominently displayed are the photos of the teams of children who he has lovingly hosted over the years.

Joining the international board in 2009, Tom Bernstein initiated a planning process to evaluate and improve the organization's governance and develop the global strategic plan that is currently being implemented by the ITC. He served as the treasurer of the ITC Foundation USA Board, chairman of it's social impact committee and chaired exhibitions in Longboat Key and Pittsburgh.

Tom Bernstein and his wife Karen established the Marci Lynn Bernstein Fund in 2000 in memory of their daughter to fund worthwhile projects involving children, local communities and, in Israel, coexistence between Arabs and Jews.

Joining the international board in 2009, Tom initiated a very successful planning process to evaluate and improve the organization's governance and and develop a global strategic plan which has been implemented by the ITC. He has served as the treasurer of the ITC Foundation USA Board, chairman of it's social impact committee and has chaired several exhibitions in both Longboat Key and Pittsburgh.

Tom and his wife Karen became involved with the ITC when they created and funded a doubles coexistence program at multiple Israel Tennis Centers in Israel. This was done in memory of their daughter, Marci Lynn Bernstein. The program enables both Israeli Jews and Arabs ages 8 to 12 to build relationships with each other by playing doubles matches together. This past year, over 1,000 children have participated in the coexistence doubles program. “Karen and I really believe we are having a major influence on the social dynamics of Israel by creating opportunitites for young children to become friends regardless of their economic or religious background.” Tom went on to note “we hired a graudate of our coexistence program come to work for the foundation here in the United States. Nadine Fahoum graduated Duke in June and became the first Israeli Muslim woman to work for a Jewish philanthropic organization. We are very proud of her and our work.”

About the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation:
The Israel Tennis Centers Foundation (ITCF) is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization that has worked for over 35 years to enhance the social, psychological, and physical development of Israeli youth through the medium of sport. Most ITC Centers are located in disadvantaged neighborhoods or outlying development towns throughout Israel, from Kiryat Shmona on the Lebanese border in the North to Beer Sheva bordering the Negev Desert in the South. There are 21,000 children in the program. http://www.israeltenniscenters.org/

Contact:
David W. Lippy
(614) 939-1533
DLippy(at)Insight(dot)rr(dot)com
Jacqueline S. Glodstein
Vice President, Global Development
(646) 884-7450
JGlodstein(at)IsraelTennisCenters(dot)org

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebIsraelTennisCenters/nonprofit/prweb10233040.htm