IPA Charities Supports Hasbara Fellowships

Contact:
Jennifer Valencia
IPA
847-808-5590
jennifer.valencia@ipa-c.com

Buffalo Grove, Ill. (June 1, 2006) - IPA Charities has donated $25,000 to the Hasbara Fellowship to help send 150 university students to Israel in the summer of 2006 for in-depth Israel activism training. This is the fourth year in a row that IPA Charities has supported this effort.

Based in the Old City of Jerusalem, Hasbara Fellows spend time traveling the city as well as other important sites in the country including strategic military sites, borders with neighboring countries, a trip to the north of the country, as well as one to the south. On the program, Fellows have the opportunity to meet with many important members of Israeli society including journalists, politicians, prominent Israeli activists, historians and other experts. Fellows are exposed to a variety of perspectives on the Israeli political spectrum and have been privileged to hear from Israeli officials including Benjamin Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, Dore Gold and Natan Sharansky.

Hasbara Fellowships, a program spearheaded by Aish International, educates and trains university students to be effective pro-Israel activists on their campuses. Started in 2001 in conjunction with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group brings hundreds of students to Israel every summer and winter, giving them the information and tools to return to their campuses as leaders in the fight for Israel's image. So far, Hasbara Fellowships has trained nearly 900 students on over 170 campuses. Upon returning from the program, the Hasbara Fellows receive staff support, which offers various campaigns, programs, speakers and other materials and tools. The organization focuses on college campuses, but the information and tools offered are applicable to other arenas as well. The goal of the fellowship program is to "take back the campus" from any anti-Israel and anti-Semitic propaganda that may exist.

IPA Charities is a 501(c)3 charitable foundation dedicated to the quest of improving communities and people’s lives around the world. IPA, the largest privately held management consulting and professional services firm for small and medium size businesses in North America, is a leading authority on small business. With annual revenues in excess of $200 million since 2005, IPA is the 6th largest management consulting company in Chicago and the 61st largest consulting company in the world. IPA offers a wide range of proven and innovative methodologies to help businesses grow and prosper. Additional information is immediately available by visiting http://www.ipa-c.com. The Public Relations Department may be contacted at: telephone (847) 495-6786; facsimile (847) 495-6773.