Israeli Basketball Leagues Unite to Support Foster Children

The Winner League basketball league is dedicating its ninth round of games to the "Yachad Lema'an HaKehilah" (Together for the Community) initiative, focusing on raising awareness for the urgent need for more foster families in Israel. The campaign will support the "Or Shalom" association, which cares for at-risk youth.

During all games of the ninth round, players and referees will enter the field carrying a banner with the message "Changing Lives Together, Join the Foster Families Team." The stadium announcer will also read a special message about the cause. This initiative aims to highlight the plight of thousands of Israeli children removed from their homes due to neglect, violence, or family crises, for whom a foster family can provide crucial stability and a chance for a better future.

Or Shalom, a non-profit organization operating for over 40 years, works under the auspices of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. The association provides safe, loving, and familial out-of-home settings, including foster families, along with professional therapeutic support tailored to each child's needs. They believe that even children raised outside their biological homes deserve a supportive, community-based environment to foster a sense of belonging and identity.

Erez Halfon, Chairman of the Leagues Association, stated, "We are happy to cooperate with the 'Or Shalom' association, which does holy work daily for at-risk children and youth. Israeli football has immense power and wide exposure, and our moral obligation is to channel this power to give these children a home, a warm embrace, and hope for a better future. Together with the teams, we will continue to harness the football fields to promote values of mutual responsibility, equal opportunities, and support for the future generation of Israeli society."