|
|
|
Contributing to the Community
“The group views the education of the future generation to be the true tool for reducing social gaps, particularly in these times, with government and municipal resources so limited, and many populations possessing limited means. As a large business organization operating in the community, we have an obligation to take on social responsibilities.” Dudi Weissman, President of Alon Group and Chairman of Dor Alon and Blue Square.
The Warm Home
One of the channels through which Alon operates is the Yad BeYad (Hand in Hand) Association, operating the Warm Home project, homes intended for children aged 4-7 from distressed families. These children, whose parents are unable to care for them in the afternoons, come to the Warm Home after attending their kindergarten or school, receiving warm and loving care, meals, help with homework, spiritual support and an attentive ear. All these contribute to creating a better foundation for developing their personality and a better future upon reaching adulthood.
To this day, Alon helped establish three Warm Homes in different cities of Israel, also contributing to their routine operation. To understand the true significance of this contribution, one must be fortunate enough to have the opportunity to hear the sound of children’s laughter emanating from these warm homes.
“Wisdom Squared” Project
As a group whose activities span the entire country, from Dan to Eilat, Alon Group is also thoroughly involved in the life of outlying regions of Israel. The pearl in the crown of its activities in this area is “Wisdom Squared”, a project for assuming social responsibility. On May 25, the annual event “Wisdom Squared” will be held for the second time in a row – a program for promoting responsible consumerism for youth, at which students from many outlying schools sum up a year of fruitful and interesting partnership between the Blue Square chain and its employees and students and their families.
In the course of the program, junior high students are enriched with knowledge, tools and insight into the competitive and complex world of consumerism. Such insights will help them in taking consumer decisions in the future, as well as equipping them already now with knowledge of the values in our lives, such as preserving environmental quality, product quality and service quality. All this while transmitting messages of tolerance and good citizenship integrated with learning experiences in the field.
Philharmonic Orchestra Scholarship Fund
The scholarship fund of the Philharmonic Orchestra unites the two facets on which Alon is focused: children and art. The fund grants scholarships to musically gifted children hailing from distressed areas. As a result of Alon’s participation, music minded children were able to make their dream come true and realize their talent and potential, an opportunity they would have never had in the bleak reality of their lives.
Computer Classes
Dor Alon opened many computer classrooms throughout Israel. According to Dudi Weissman: “Acquaintance with the computer is critical for children and their future, but unfortunately, children in the lower socio-economic strata are not always able to benefit from the advantages of computers, thus perpetuating the social gap. The computer will augment the children’s achievements and enable them to get a head start toward a better life.”
International Activity
Just like in Israel, so also abroad, Alon acts through Alon USA, initiating many projects for communities in which it functions. Among such projects – Communities in Schools – an educational program for children and youth at risk, aimed at helping them complete assisted by a professional team and volunteers, some of whom are company employees. Another example, this time in the area of art and the community, is the Fueling the Imagination project, a venture into folk art in Lubbock, Texas, with involvement of educational institutions and schools, public employees, local and international artists. The venture creates a social link between all population strata through art. In line with its policy of supporting art, Alon USA has contributed $ million toward the establishment of the Dallas Cultural Center.
|