Jerusalem Foundation
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| Founded | 1966 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Teddy Kollek |
| Type | Nonprofit foundation |
| Focus | Community development, culture, Jewish-Arab coexistence |
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Area served
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Jerusalem |
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Key people
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Yohanna Arbib-Perugia, president Nir Barkat, honorary chairman Sallai Meridor, international chairman |
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Revenue
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$25 million annually |
| Website | jerusalemfoundation.org |
The Jerusalem Foundation (Hebrew: הקרן לירושלים, HaKeren LiYerushalayim; Arabic: مؤسسة صندوق القدس) is a nonprofit foundation that promotes the development of the city of Jerusalem, Israel by raising funds for social, cultural and beautification projects. Established in 1966 by Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek, it has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the city's budget and established parks, gardens, forests, recreational sites, theaters, and museums; restored ancient sites, synagogues, mosques, and churches; funded community and social centers, preschool centers, and health clinics; and sponsored archeological excavations, scholarships, and cultural events. The Jerusalem Foundation is unique in its structure and mission, as it funds municipal projects with private donations from international sources.
When Kollek became mayor of Jerusalem in 1965, it was a divided city, separated into Arab and Jewish sectors as a result of the 1949 Armistice Agreements. One of Kollek's objectives for The Jerusalem Foundation was to use it to build world Jewry's support for the development of Jewish Jerusalem. At the same time, the city suffered from poverty and overcrowding, with much of the population living in housing projects. Hardly any neighborhoods had a park or playground. The Jerusalem Foundation's first initiative was the establishment of public parks in a few of the city's poorest neighborhoods, with funds donated by New York supporters. Since its inception, the Foundation has furnished playgrounds and flower gardens for nearly every Jerusalem neighborhood, contributing 350 out of the more than 1,000 parks, gardens and green spaces in the city.
Politically, Kollek viewed the Foundation as a tool for pushing projects past a city council that was unable or unwilling to support them. Kollek also leveraged matching funds from the municipality, government ministries, and non-governmental organizations for Foundation projects.
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