Keren Gandyr

Keren Gandyr is an Israeli family philanthropic foundation established in 2004 as part of the Gandyr Group. It continues a multi-generational family tradition of giving and social responsibility rooted in Thessaloniki, Greece, in the 1930s, now carried by the fourth and fifth generations of the family, led by Yudy Yuval Raccanati and her daughters. The foundation operates with a family vision in which family members are full partners in shaping its activities. Over the years, it has adapted its methods and areas of focus to the changing needs of Israeli society and the interests and expertise of family members. The foundation aims to strengthen Israeli society by reducing social, economic, and environmental gaps and by reinforcing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence. It promotes its goals through cross-sector and inter-sector cooperation, advancing the professionalization of civil society organizations, and encouraging sustainable, feasible, measurable, and financially diverse solutions. It works in partnership with a variety of social organizations and helps strengthen their organizational infrastructure, including human capital, organizational systems, and financial models. In addition to the foundation's activities, the family across generations has promoted extensive and diverse philanthropic activity, including the founding of NATAL – the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center – in 1998 by Yudy Yuval Raccanati and the late Dr. Yossi Hadar. Until the end of 2022, Yudy served as active chair of NATAL, and in 2023 she was appointed founding president. The foundation currently focuses on strengthening democracy in Israel, urbanism, strengthening the field of treatment for victims of sexual trauma, and integrating underrepresented populations into the high-tech industry. With the establishment of the foundation and for two decades, its activity focused on the field of young people in Israel, working to promote and develop a professional and effective field for young people aged 18–30. Over the years, the field has developed significantly: organizations, responses, and dedicated services have been added, alongside broad governmental and philanthropic activity. Today it is a professional and established field. The foundation supports youth centers in Israel, coalitions of youth organizations (e.g., the Forum of Civil Service Organizations, the Forum of Organizations for Girls at Risk), and until 2014 supported the central headquarters of youth centers operating under JDC Israel. Until 2012, Keren Gandyr supported youth movements in Israel's social and geographic periphery. The foundation is a partner in many initiatives in the field of young people and in developing civil society in Israel, and supports the organization Shitufim. Together with several philanthropic foundations and government ministries, the foundation established Keren Hazdamnut (Opportunity Fund) to support initiatives that promote the integration of young people without a post-high-school framework into civil service. The foundation encourages knowledge development in the field of young people through support for academic research, formulation of position papers, development of models for working with young people, and making information accessible to young people regarding their rights and available services through a youth portal on the Kol Zchut website. In the 2016–2017 academic year, Keren Gandyr launched a certificate program on youth in collaboration with Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College. Dr. Ronit Amit served as CEO of the foundation from its establishment until 2018, and Dr. Naama Miran has managed the foundation since. The name Gandyr is composed of the first letters of the names of family members: Gili, Noa, Darya, Yudy, and Ruli.

Keren Gandyr was established in 2004 as an Israeli family philanthropic foundation, part of the Gandyr Group. It continues a multi-generational family tradition of giving and social responsibility rooted in Thessaloniki, Greece, in the 1930s, now carried by the fourth and fifth generations of the family, led by Yudy Yuval Raccanati and her daughters. The name Gandyr is composed of the first letters of the names of family members: Gili, Noa, Darya, Yudy, and Ruli. For two decades, the foundation focused on the field of young people in Israel, working to promote and develop a professional and effective field for young people aged 18–30. It supported youth centers in Israel, coalitions of youth organizations (e.g., the Forum of Civil Service Organizations, the Forum of Organizations for Girls at Risk), and until 2014 supported the central headquarters of youth centers operating under JDC Israel. Until 2012, it supported youth movements in Israel's social and geographic periphery. The foundation is a partner in many initiatives in the field of young people and in developing civil society in Israel, and supports the organization Shitufim. Together with several philanthropic foundations and government ministries, it established Keren Hazdamnut (Opportunity Fund) to support initiatives that promote the integration of young people without a post-high-school framework into civil service. It encourages knowledge development through support for academic research, formulation of position papers, development of models for working with young people, and making information accessible through a youth portal on the Kol Zchut website. In the 2016–2017 academic year, it launched a certificate program on youth in collaboration with Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College. Dr. Ronit Amit served as CEO from its establishment until 2018, and Dr. Naama Miran has managed the foundation since. In addition to the foundation's activities, the family across generations has promoted extensive philanthropic activity, including the founding of NATAL – the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center – in 1998 by Yudy Yuval Raccanati and the late Dr. Yossi Hadar. Until the end of 2022, Yudy served as active chair of NATAL, and in 2023 she was appointed founding president. The foundation currently focuses on strengthening democracy in Israel, urbanism, strengthening the field of treatment for victims of sexual trauma, and integrating underrepresented populations into the high-tech industry.

• 2023

  Yudy Yuval Raccanati appointed founding president of NATAL.

• 2018

  Dr. Naama Miran became CEO, succeeding Dr. Ronit Amit.

• 2016

  Launched a certificate program on youth in collaboration with Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College.

• 2014

  Foundation ceased support for the central headquarters of youth centers under JDC Israel.

• 2012

  Foundation ceased support for youth movements in Israel's social and geographic periphery.

• 2004

  Keren Gandyr established as an Israeli family philanthropic foundation.

• 1998

  NATAL – Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center – founded by Yudy Yuval Raccanati and Dr. Yossi Hadar.

Family philanthropic foundation focused on reducing social, economic, and environmental gaps in Israel and strengthening Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

1. 1קרן גנדיר - קבוצת גנדירgandyr.com
2. 2Keren Gandyr - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3קרן גנדיר - Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org