It’s never too late to do a ‘Good Deed’

“Good deeds day is a day that does good for the heart," says Shari Arison.

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Some 800,000 Israelis are expected to do some good as part of the ninth annual Good Deeds Day next month, a project that encourages people to volunteer and give back to the community.
It was initiated by Ruach Tova (“Good Spirit”), a nonprofit organization that is part of the Ted Arison Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Arison Group.
“Good Deeds Day is a day that does good for the heart. This is a day that connects between people of all ages, cultures and religions. This is a day that has become a national day and I hope that everyone will take part, with the understanding that it is possible to think well, speak well and do good throughout the year,” said businesses woman and philanthropist Shari Arison.
Events in Israel will be held on Tuesday, March 24, while International Good Deeds Day is held annually in countries and cities around the world on March 15.
Schools and youth groups, businesses, soldiers and students are expected to participate in more than 10,000 activities planned in Israel and hundreds more throughout the world, with participants expected to give back a record breaking three million hours of volunteering.
In addition, this year numerous Arab municipalities have signed up to hold good deeds activities within their communities.
Among the various projects, volunteers will clean up forests and beaches; renovate and paint welfare institutions; hold “fun days” for underprivileged or special needs populations; engage in activities with Holocaust survivors and with the elderly; and plant community gardens.
“Good deeds day is just a symbol and serves as a catalyst for the start of volunteering activities that last all year long. Over the past few years we have found that people and groups who have joined for Good Deeds Day continue to volunteer throughout the year,” said Rafi Elul, chairman of Ruach Tova.
Last year, more than 550,000 Israelis participated in some 9,000 volunteer projects nationwide and tens of thousands participated in volunteering activities in some 50 countries around the world, including Italy, Germany, Argentina, Russia, Panama and the US.
To register for Good Deeds Day visit: www.good-deeds-day.org.il (Hebrew site).