To : The Raymond Chera Family Foundation

ILAN - Israel Foundation for the

Handicapped Children

The Therapeutic Swimming Program

ILAN General Background

"ILAN“ is the Hebrew word for a young shoot of a tree, full of its blessed natural vitality, looking up for its promised future awaiting it, in the limitless skies above its head …

ILAN is one of Israel’s oldest non-profit voluntary organizations, which cares for and rehabilitates over 15.000 handicapped individuals all over the country. Established in 1952, ILAN has helped educate, train and rehabilitate many thousands of handicapped individuals - regardless of race or religion – helping them to live with their disabilities and become equal members of society.

Just like a tree, ILAN relies on its deep network of roots to keep its promises and hopes. Over the years ILAN was involved in establishing and operating kindergartens, schools, homes, sheltered workshops, sport centers and a whole range of programs within the community. The leaves have proudly sprout turning the ILAN tree into the most significant source of assistance to the community of handicapped children and adults in Israel.

Due to the fact that physically, the ILAN community of children and adults are suffering from neuro-muscular disabilities, various levels of cerebral palsy (CP), muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis (MS), polio, spina bifida and other motor disabilities, and since ILAN’s mission is to improve the quality of life of its members, it was decided to launch the Therapeutic Swimming project as a new branch on our Tree of Hope.

The concept of this therapy is in line with ILAN’s professional policy to always aim for the top, most advanced effective programs and therapies to treat its client population. Over the years ILAN has allocated a considerable amount of its resources towards the development of sport activities for the physically handicapped. Our years of experience have proved the enormous benefits derived from comprehensive sport programs and, judging by the results, we believe that such therapeutic treatments are indispensable for a disabled person.

Though, Therapeutic Swimming is not a new treatment concept, it is indeed, no doubt , one of the most effective cherished programs amongst those who take part in it . It helps disabled children and adults to develop their physical, social and psychological well being, and in turn improves their quality of life as well as their general capability to deal with their disability.

Program description:

Different ILAN branches throughout the country run the Therapeutic Swimming Program, serving hundreds of disabled persons.

The program runs once or twice a week (depending on the group) , for two hours each time . Obviously, the children must be provided with transportation from their schools to the Sports Center and then back to their homes. Participants are divided into very small age groups in order to accommodate their different unique needs and capabilities. The swimming therapy provides them with both physical and emotional support. It enables to work with the disabled children on strengthening their weak muscles.

Annual Budget of the Therapeutic Swimming project:

* Transportation for Counselors/Volunteers and Children - $ 30.000

* Project Coordinator

40) hours per month x 12 months x $9) - $ 4,320

* 8 Counselors -

(20 hours per month x 12 months x 8 x $9) - $ 17,280

* Trips and Activities

(500 $ per month over 12 months) 6,000 $

* Study and Work Materials - < $ 6,000

Total $ 63,600

As you can see these individual and small group instructions are especially costly. Coupled with the high transportation cost, the Swimming Therapy program is very expensive. While the therapeutic swimming it is in high demand by the disabled their families can not afford to pay the entire cost.

Realising the extreme importance of the project, ILAN subsidises it in order to ensure that those disabled persons who need the program most will get it. At the same time we appeal to every possible financial source, asking to help us help those in need.