Supporters of Israel Tennis Centres (ITC) had a pretty good reason to celebrate recently, as Israel registered a stunning victory over Russia in Davis Cup play.
The men’s team advanced to the semifinals for the first time ever, going further than more favoured nations such as Australia, France and the United States.
Harel Levy, Dudi Sela, Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram led the Israelis past the Russians. They will play defending champion Spain in the semis in Torre Pacheco Murcia Stadium, near Cartagena, from Sept. 18 to 20.
Notably, all the Israeli tennis players are ITC alumni. Sela was among the dignitaries present at a reception hosted by the ITC’s Canadian fundraising arm. The event was held at the Canada Stadium, funded by Canadians 33 year ago, and attended by donors to Israel Children’s Centers (ICC), which supports ITC programs, Maccabi Canada officials and visiting dignitaries. The president of the Toronto branch of the ICC, Kevin Green, will become international chair of the organization next month.
The ICC is housed at the ITC and is a not-for-profit entity that funds the ITC’s recreational facilities for marginalized children while developing high-performance athletes.
The ICC serves almost 10,000 youngsters a week at 14 ITC facilities across Israel, from Kiryat Shmona in the north to Be’er Sheva in the south.
The centres run coexistence programs that bring Arab and Jewish kids together, as well as programs for the developmentally disabled and programs that assist in the integration of Ethiopian immigrants.
In Canada, the ICC recently held its 17th annual fundraiser and charity tournament at Angus Glen Golf Club, and in September, it will host an annual event at York Racquets Club to aid children’s programs in Israel.