On November 5, a 15-hour online marathon titled “Israel Support Marathon” was held. This was the largest-ever fundraising event for Israel dedicated to the pro-Israel Russian-speaking community, which was organized by a group of volunteers in collaboration with the Center for Jewish Impact.
According to preliminary data, the Israel support marathon attracted over 500,000 views. More than 7,800 people from over 30 countries, donated to support the marathon's goals- These funds will be allocated to a broad range of projects designed to support the Israeli public, which has been deeply affected by the war, with a particular focus on aiding disadvantaged sectors and the younger generation.
The marathon swiftly surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $550,000, inspiring the organizers to raise the bar further. By the event's end, contributions totaled an impressive $663,000. The marathon's organizers have decided to continue fundraising until November 20.
The list of celebrities who participated in the marathon is truly impressive, including Evgeny Khavtan, Boris Grebenshchikov, Bi-2, Arkady Duchin, David Daor, Shym ("Kasta"), Noize Mc, Tequilajazzz, Andrey Makarevich, Leonid Parfenov, Anton Dolin, Mikhail Shats, Semen Slepakov, and over forty other artists.
Robert Singer, Chairman of the Center for Jewish Impact, stated, "We are deeply moved by the overwhelming support from hundreds of thousands of audience members who tuned into the broadcast, as well as by the generosity of donors from around the globe. The marathon's goal is twofold: to address the immediate needs of the Israeli public and to invest in the future of Israel and its citizens. As a result, many of the donations were initially directed to hospitals. Now, our aim is to invest in disadvantaged communities on one hand and, on the other, in our youth and the younger generation, the future of our region. In this way, we ensure that we offer comprehensive support to all facets of society. We are thankful for the collaboration with many organizations of Russian-speaking Jews around the world, the Russian Jewish Congress, Alumot Or, and all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this event."
The final amount of funds raised, detailed information about the fundraising goals, and the initial reports on the aid delivered will be published on November 20 on the marathon's official platforms: www.supportisrael23.com
