Life After Tikva: The Future Of Israel

Originally published on Tom Leydiker's website.

Tikva’s Children’s Home welcomes children of all ages, from infants to younger teens. From the moment they enter the home, they are taken care of, given an opportunity of life that would have been unattainable in their previous situation. For years, they are provided with food, shelter, education, and, most importantly, mentors whose mission it is to truly assist them in transitioning into being functional, thriving adults.

After living at Tikva for a portion of their lives, people often wonder what the transitional period from a children’s home to the real world looks like since it must be a bit of a shock for young adults who are so used to another way of life. Here is a look into life after Tikva.

Life After Graduation

Once these children turn 16 years old – and are deemed both mentally and academically mature enough to continue on to the next stages of life – they officially graduate from Tikva. After graduation, they meet with Tikva’s qualified team of professionals, where they are taught strategies and skills that will help them seamlessly transition from life inside the home to life in mainstream Israel. From here, they attend high school, enroll in university, or go into vocational training, pursuing their dream profession.

Tikva’s Programs

There are two different programs that currently help to serve Tikva’s immigrants as they begin building their lives in Israel:

Tikva’s Vocational Development And Employment Placement Program. It can be very difficult to try to build a life in an environment where you feel like such a stranger, let alone attempt to find a job in a foreign area. This program was founded with the intention of aiding these immigrants in narrowing in on their talents and skills so that they can pursue a professional career path in line with their strengths.

Jewish Holiday Program And Shabbat Retreats. It’s hard to not feel lonely when you are in a place so far away from your family, especially during the holidays. Tikva staff makes it their priority to bring people together during the holidays, so, every year, they transport 150 alumni to be in community with one another at hostels throughout the country.

Currently, over 400 children that have graduated from Tikva have gone on to Israel in order to make a better life for themselves – and that number will only continue to rise. I am so grateful that I can help financially support Tikva in changing the lives of so many people!

Social Entrepreneurship: The Bond Between Business And Community

Originally published on Tom Leydiker's website.

Starting your own business is an exciting venture. Actually surviving as a small business is monumental – only 10 percent of entrepreneurs can actually say they have done this successfully. One would think that once these two accomplishments have been achieved that an entrepreneur would be satisfied, looking to the future to see the continued growth of their business.

For some entrepreneurs, these feats are simply not enough to keep them satisfied. While they are actively involved in growing their business, anticipating all of the milestones that lie ahead, they want to do more with their business than the typical entrepreneur. The business owners who possess this mentality are responsible for inspiring social entrepreneurship. They believe they have a social responsibility to give back to their community, so they use their business to develop and financially support solutions that address social, cultural, and environmental concerns on both a local and global level.

Social Entrepreneurship In The Workplace

When thinking about social entrepreneurship, you should be able to develop a lengthy mental list of all the businesses who have made it their mission to dedicate their time, energy, and funds to make a difference in the world. The most notorious company in the social entrepreneurial realm is perhaps TOMS shoes, known for their policy of donating one pair of shoes to a person in need for every pair purchased online. Warby Parker follows the exact same mission statement, but instead of shoes, they sell and donate glasses to people in need.

What are the benefits of social entrepreneurship?

The main benefit of social entrepreneurship is to know that you are responsible for bettering the lives of people who are in desperate need of commodities that are so readily available to us. However, in addition to these feelings of good will, there are a few other ways that social entrepreneurship can positively impact your small business:

Acquire funding.

Social companies often have an easier time acquiring funding for their ventures. Due to the nature of the company, there are also incentives put in place to help support social entrepreneurs through the government and other various organizations.

Marketing products or services.

Being a socially responsible business is extremely valuable in the eyes of consumers. People are more prone to support a company if they know they are also helping to support a meaningful cause.

Increased support.

Not only will your consumers support your efforts, being actively engaged in helping to bring about change, but other companies that fall within this group are more likely to lend their support in advocating for your company’s mission.

If you have ever considered becoming a social entrepreneur or want to incorporate this practice into your current business model, do some research into how you can be an entrepreneur who puts the needs of others at the forefront of their mission.

Getting Involved: Philanthropic Opportunities In New York

Originally published on Tom Leydiker's website.

In the city that never sleeps, there are endless activities for you to become involved in. For many, New York is a place where individuals go to pursue their dreams or to discover new areas that can fulfill aspects of their lives they feel have been missing. To some, this could be furthering a professional endeavor or exploring a future in the arts. To others, it could simply be wanting to immerse themselves in an entirely different environment – a community that is constantly growing and filled with seemingly endless possibilities.

Not all seek fulfillment in their independent success, though. Some are captivated by New York for the world of philanthropy it opens up. There are so many organizations that have roots in New York. Not only do these organizations make a significant impact on the local community, but a number of them also make an impact on a global level as well. There is never an excess of resources available to these charities, so it is always inspiring to see the community come together to support these efforts with both their money and time.

If you’ve been wanting to give back but aren’t quite sure of where to start, here are a few charities that are very dear to my heart:

1. American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is dedicated to providing relief and even preventative services in order to aid suffering. Their services not only make a difference in the surrounding areas, but their outreach extends throughout the rest of the world as well. If you have had any relationship with the Red Cross in the past, you are already familiar with some of their services, like donating blood and safety courses. But their disaster relief services have quite an impact in helping to rebuild communities in third world countries and beyond.

2. Doctors Without Borders

With offices in twenty different countries, it’s no surprise how far the effects of this organization can reach. Doctors Without Borders revolutionized the way that victims of disasters and war received emergency assistance and were one of the first organizations who not only provided this service, but were able to grow it to such a large extent.

3. Habitat For Humanity

Another organization with roots in a variety of locations, Habitat For Humanity is one of the guiding forces responsible for improving the living situations of low-income families. Because of their vision, the resources they receive from their supporters, and the individuals who volunteer their time to help build the homes, they have been able to change the lives of thousands of families, promising them safety and security by putting a roof over their heads.

If any of these charities mirror causes that are important to you, consider donating to them or supporting their efforts. Without you, they would not be able to live out their missions.

Partnership Opportunities With Tikva Children's Home

My partnership with Tikva Children's Home started quite a while ago. Since then, it has become a staple in the organizations that I continually support.

When you find an organization like Tikva, it is one that will develop into a long-term relationship. Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of this specific organization, unlike many others, is that the money they receive through donations is actually used in accordance with their mission statement.

Since I first built a partnership with Tikva, I have not only seen the tremendous impact the contributions that I and many others have had on the children they work with, but I have actually been able to impact to get involved with the organization on a deeper level. For example, I was recently given the opportunity to sponsor Tikva’s Annual Gala at Espace NYC.

If you would like to work in partnership with Tikva's mission, here are a variety of opportunities for you to get involved:

Missions
Every year, Tikva Children's Home organizes a minimum of two to three missions to Odessa. Here, individuals have the opportunity to spend time connecting with Tikva's children, cradling infants or playing games with their teenagers.

Annual Young Leadership Retreat & Fundraising
Individuals who are between the ages of 20-30 from either North America or Western Europe have the chance to be hand-selected to travel to Odessa and immerse themselves in the home. In addition to spending time with the children, they are also educated on Tikva's programs. Through this insight and first-hand experience, these participants can help to spread the word about the importance of what this organization does to support Jewish children.

Virtual Adoption Program
If volunteering your time is not possible for you, consider sponsoring one of Tikva’s children. The monetary support that is given to these children helps to provide them with food, medical care, weather-appropriate clothing, a roof over their head, and a quality education. But through your support, they can also experience the genuine love of humanity.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program
If you can’t travel and have financial limitations, consider donating a smaller amount of money that will be used to help a Jewish child celebrate his or her Bar/Bat Mitzvah. This is a symbolic part of Jewish culture and your donations can help properly bring a child into adulthood.

Gifts
The children that are cared for in Tikva are brought out of poverty and neglect and into the loving arms of the staff at the home. Even something as small as a toy is enough to bring them utter joy. If you want to make a small contribution that will have a huge impact, consider sending a child a simple gift!

Not only will your financial contributions help to serve the children at the home, they will help Tikva to find and care for the hundreds of other abandoned or abused children who are living in undesirable, heartbreaking conditions. Learn more about Tikva’s partnerships online!

4 Free Ways To Make A Difference In The World

Supporting a need greater than your own is one way to find meaning in your own life. Not only are you creating purpose for yourself, but your contributions have a direct impact on the lives of others.

When individuals think of ways to give back, they immediately think of putting pen to paper and writing a check for an organization they wish to support. This mentality is not only limiting, it often causes people to opt out of giving altogether due to insufficient finances. If someone is forced to decide between putting food on the table or donating money, it is a no-brainer that feeding their family is a better use of money than giving it away.

What many people fail to realize is that philanthropic efforts do not have to be monetary. You can have a similar impact on an individual, a group, or an organization by simply giving of your time and resources without spending a single penny.

Here are 5 different ways that you can change the world - for free:

1. Idealist

For the idealists of the world, there is a place where you can meet other individuals who are just as interested in you as making a difference on both a local and global scale. Idealist.org is a website that brings individuals together, no matter where you are from.

2. Volunteer Match

This website will pair you up with other volunteers and organizations that want to give of their time to help people in need. Together, you can all find an opportunity that is close to your hearts where your services can make a huge impact.

3. Elder Helpers

Sometimes volunteer opportunities arise that may seem minimal, but are just as impactful as if you were volunteering for an entire organization. Elder Helpers connects volunteers with a senior in need. These services could be anything from helping them garden to driving them to a store for groceries once a week.

4. Dress For Success

If you have a very busy schedule, sometimes volunteering opportunities get in the way of other activities and obligations. Instead, use what you already have to give back. Dress For Success encourages women to donate their gently used business clothing to women in the workplace who don’t have the financial income to buy more expensive, professional business wear.

The Children Of Tikva

Some children do not get the white-picket-fence upbringing that so many others are born into. No spacious home with a lush backyard to play in. No mother and father, happily married, to shower them with the affection, support, and warmth all growing children deserve. No consistent area of life to serve as a positive example or to promise a stable future.

But that does not mean that these children don’t have just as much potential as other children. All they require is a safe-space where there are individuals who not only recognize this potential, but are dedicated to bringing this potential out of them.

For many, this safe-space has a name: Tikva Children’s Home. With open arms, they welcome children of any age, which includes those as young as infants, who typically remain under their care until they are sixteen years of age. When these children first come to Tikva, they have already experienced more suffering than adults three times their age. These traumatic beginnings to life often leave children to suffer various complications that range from medical ailments to psychological and developmental disabilities.

The heartbreak of seeing these children when they first come to Tikva are quickly replaced with feelings of happiness and inspiration as these children grow into their roles as independent, capable adults. Through the love they received while under the care of Tikva staff members, they are now destined for a good life, just as they would have been if they would have been raised in a more stable home at the onset of their lives.

Who are the children of Tikva?

Tikva is not discriminatory in who they take in. But there are three common reasons for why a child would come into the care of Tikva.

Children who are orphans.

Children who are found living on the streets or in the surrounding state orphanages, often separated from their other siblings, are located and brought into Tikva’s home.

Children who live in abusive homes.

These children live in the home of either one parent, both parents, or another living relative. They may have a living space, but these homes are unfit to live in because their caretaker(s) are either abusive and neglectful or there are dangerous risks inside the home, like alcohol or drugs.

Children who live in poverty.

There are children that come into Tikva’s care that are lucky enough to have a parent or family member who truly cares about them, yet, due to economical circumstances, they are unable to provide the basic necessities that are needed for survival.

No matter where these children come from, one thing applies to all of them: they deserve the opportunity of a better life. That is why I have founded the Tom Leydiker Foundation and have made it my purpose to fund organizations, such as Tikva Children’s Home. They require the means and resources to provide adequate care to improve the lives of these children who have already lived through so much pain and anguish.