HESEG Foundation

The HESEG Foundation is an organization created by Canadian CEOs Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman in 2005 to provide free tuition to former lone soldiers who serve in Israel's military under Israel Defense Forces.

HESEG provides money to cover tuition and living expenses for former "lone soldiers" who wish to remain in Israel to study after they've completed their military service. Approximately 6,000 "lone soldiers" serve in the IDF in any one year.

In 2006, HESEG donated 100 mobile air conditioning units to provide relief for residents of northern Israel forced to live in bomb shelters during the Israel-Hezbollah War. To be eligible for free tuition, the immigrant to Israel must join the Israeli Defence forces, and complete their term of active service.

Heseg is the Hebrew word for "achievement".

Criticism
Schwartz and Reisman's role in the foundation has led pro-Palestinian activists to organize a boycott campaign of the Chapters and Indigo book chain (Chapters/Indigo) which is owned by Reisman and has Schwartz on its board.

In light of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, criticism of the IDF has escalated in regards to its international human rights and humanitarian law violations.

Critics claim the foundation violates the Foreign Enlistment Act by offering inducements to Canadians to join a foreign military service.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) states that “supporting the armed forces of another country is not” charitable. Yves Engler wrote that Heseg violates CRA rules by being one of many Canadian charitable organizations that send money to the IDF.