NEW YORK, NY — Friends of Yachad held its first ever 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament this past Sunday March 26, held at the Ramaz Upper 
School in Manhattan.
Twenty teams of young professionals vied for the title, and after several hours of intense 3-on-3 games, Andrew Haft, Michael Berg and Max Feldstein (“Team Fam”) emerged victorious.
Thanks to a devoted host committee, generous corporate sponsors and participants, nearly $10,000 was raised benefitting Yachad’sIndividualized Vocational Development Unit (IVDU) Schools. The day’s program also included a Chinese auction that was managed by a Yachad vocational member.
“We’re putting the ‘F-U-N’ into fundraising,” said Dr. Jeff Lichtman, International Director of Yachad. “Between this basketball tournament, and our extremely popular marathons, we are excited about the incredible community response we are getting.”
“Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the Ramaz Upper School for graciously opening up its space for us,” said Marla Rottenstreich, Assistant Director of Yachad. “It is generosity like this which enables us to do our critical work in the Jewish community.”
“The Friends of Yachad 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament allowed participants to combine their palpable desire to contribute to a worthy and invaluable organization such as Yachad with quality, competitive basketball,” Sam Apple, Yachad’s Joel Daner Fellow said. “It was befitting that the proceeds from these young professionals would support Yachad’s IVDU School, which provides the core academic, social, and life skills for individuals with disabilities, themselves, to soon become young professionals, too.”
Located in Brooklyn, IVDU Schools offer students with special needs (ages 5 to 21) a comprehensive and nurturing educational environment. IVDU’s small student-teacher ratios allow for differentiated instruction to best meet each child’s individual needs. To learn more about Yachad’s IVDU Schools, check out https://www.yachad.org/ivdu/.