Earlier this month, we shared an update on Israel Bonds-assisted Hurricane Harvey relief efforts led by the Israel Bonds Houston office. This past week, Israel Bonds President & CEO Israel Maimon, National Vice President for Sales Stuart Garawitz and National Director of Human Resources Barry Loyal, led a delegation to affected communities. The group was joined by Israel Bonds Southwest Region Executive Director Karen Garfield, Israel Bonds Houston New Leadership committee member Zachary Samet, and Bonds Houston registered representatives Steve Landis and Eric Lipman.
 
While in Houston, Israel Bonds’ senior leaders volunteered at the Houston Food Bank, boxing supplies and preparing food for those in need. The delegation met with influential members of the Houston community and attended a dinner at Congregation Brith Shalom in Bellaire, Texas, at which Maimon, Gilad Katz, consul general of Israel to the southwest, Harvey Rosenstock, rabbi and physician, chairman of Bonds Houston campaign and others addressed a crowd of over 100 guests.
 
The group also met with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and City Controller Chris B. Brown, who provided updates on relief efforts. Mayor Turner shared his pride for the collaborative spirit the people of Houston have demonstrated after the storm, and Controller Brown spoke enthusiastically about the city’s focus on bouncing back after such a natural disaster.
 
The delegation spent time surveying affected neighborhoods, including synagogues hit hard by the hurricane and met with rabbis at these shuls to learn more about their rebuilding plans. At Gulf Meadows Church, the group spoke with Pastor Becky Keenan, who is undertaking hurricane relief at the church with the help of both the Jewish and larger communities.
 
Reflecting on his visit to affected areas, Maimon said, “Being able to participate even in a small way to the work that needs to be done to return Houston residents back to normalcy was important to me and the Israel Bonds team as a whole. We will continue to support the Houston community’s path as partners.” 

See coverage from the Jewish Harold-Voice here.


Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (center) meets with,
from left, Israel Bonds former national campaign chair,
Fred Zeidman, managing partner of Resolute Venture Partners,
Jay Zeidman, Israel Bonds President & CEO, Israel Maimon and
Israel Bonds National Vice President for Sales, Stuart Garawitz. 


The Israel Bonds delegation joined other organizations
including AIG, LINN Energy and Selene Finance to
volunteer at the Houston Food Bank where they prepared
meals to send to local families affected by Hurricane Harvey.


While volunteering at the Houston Food Bank, the
Israel Bonds team, including President & CEO Israel Maimon
(pictured) prepared more than 2,000 boxes for families in need.
Each box included water, protein sources, starches, fruits
and vegetables.


The Israel Bonds delegation at the Houston Food Bank,
where they spent the day packaging supply boxes for local
residents hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey. From left,
Israel Maimon, Zachary Samet, Steve Landis, Stuart Garawitz,
Karen Garfield and Barry Loyal.


Israel Bonds President & CEO Israel Maimon was a
featured speaker at a dinner at Congregation Brith Shalom
in Bellaire, Texas attended by more than 100 people.
Pictured along with Israel Bonds Southwest Executive Director Karen Garfield,
Maimon discusses ongoing relief efforts with
Israel Bonds Houston council member Roger Sofer and Elise Newman,
chair of the Israel Bonds Houston Women’s Division.
(Photo: Marc Nathan) 


Israel Maimon received an update on areas surrounding
Gulf Meadows Church in Houston by Pastor Becky Keenan (left).
Pastor Keenan is undertaking hurricane relief at her church
with donations from the general and Jewish community.