Israel ParaSport Center Rehabs with Resilience

An evening of heartfelt testimony, philanthropy, and comedy brought Atlanta supporters together for the sold-out 2026 “Teaming with Laughter” fundraiser benefiting the Israel ParaSport Center. The event, held at The Factory in Chamblee, celebrated a decades-long partnership between Atlanta’s Jewish community and an Israeli organization that uses adaptive sports, rehabilitation, and community to help those with disabilities build fulfilling lives.

Isaac Halstead performed stirring renditions of the “National Anthem” and “Hatikvah.” Event co-chair Gayle Siegel welcomed the crowd of 415. The night’s grandest announcement came during a tribute to the late Michael Schwarz, a longtime supporter whose family helped establish Atlanta as one of the Center’s strongest American fundraising communities. Following a video honoring his generosity, humility, and commitment to helping others, his son, Barry, announced that the family foundation had committed $1million to the Center; the gift honors both his father and his mother, Marcia, while supporting an organization that had become deeply important to their family. Although his parents generally avoid public recognition, he explained that sharing the commitment could inspire others to give.

Jennifer Flink, the Center’s U.S. Executive Director, traced Atlanta’s involvement back more than 30 years and acknowledged the Frank, Leven, and Schwarz families, among others, for their enduring support. She also celebrated a recently unveiled swimming pool at the Center in Ramat Gan, made possible through contributions from Atlanta. The pool represents another tangible result of the community’s longstanding philanthropy.

The organization’s mission extends beyond athletic competition. Founded in the 1960s amid Israel’s Polio epidemic, it now serves more than 3,000 people with physical disabilities. Programs provide adaptive sports, coaching, rehabilitation, and opportunities for friendship and belonging. Participants described the Center not merely as a home but also a source of renewed confidence.

One of the program’s most compelling speakers was Mordecai Zedkiyahu, a 38-year-old wheelchair rugby player from Jerusalem. Paralyzed after an accident during his school years, he recalled arriving at the Center in 2009 and discovering wheelchair rugby. “For the first time since my accident, I felt strong,” he said. He now plays for Israel’s national rugby team, coaches children and younger athletes, and has built a family with his wife and two children.

Wheelchair basketball player and Center ambassador, Asael Shabo, recounted his own harrowing journey. At age 9, he survived a terrorist attack that killed his mother and three brothers and cost him his right leg. He spoke compellingly about discrimination and isolation, crediting the Center with giving him acceptance, purpose, and stability over 24 years. His testimony connected the Center’s longstanding disability services with the growing needs of Israelis affected by violence and trauma.

Ayelet Avraham, the Center’s head of social services, explained that its support is tailored to each person rather than requiring individuals to fit a standard program. She shared the story of a woman who found identity and community through the women’s wheelchair basketball team.

Following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, the Center launched an emergency response initiative to reach displaced families and people with disabilities. That work is now expanding into trauma rehabilitation. Israel’s National Social Security Agency selected the organization as one of eight nationwide to provide specialized services. The Center plans to combine trauma-informed physical activity with group therapy for survivors of the Nova music festival and others coping with psychological wounds.

Event Co-Chair Barbra Rosing illustrated the power of personal connections by describing her involvement with the family of former hostage Bar Kupershtein. She recalled meeting Bar and his father, Tal, during her first visit to Israel after Bar’s release. Tal, a Center member who uses a wheelchair, had worked toward standing to embrace his son. Rosing urged guests to form their own relationships with the Center and help sustain its expanding mission.

The evening also welcomed more than 70 young adults through the efforts of NextGen co-chairs Ashley Siegel and Paul Rosing and appealed for contributions toward a $100,000 event fundraising goal.

To lighten the evening, comedians Jason and Randy Sklar delivered jokes about family life, parenting, and Jewish culture. Because they are twins, their presentation, almost talking over each other in quick cadence, was as endearing as the material itself.

Board member Craig Kornblum closed the evening.