User:Ronishpitalni/sandbox/Push Foundation

Push is a non-profit organization that seeks to reduce disparities in education by promoting students from a low socio-economic background in Israel.

History
Push was founded in 2002 by Odelia Shpitalni who serves as chairperson of the organization in a voluntary capacity. The Board of Directors includes several senior functionaries in the Israeli business and public sectors, among them Eliezer Shkedi.

Pedagogical and educational involvement
Volunteers from the Push Foundation provide free educational assistance to students in grades one through twelve. The volunteers receive guidance and training from school officials on behalf of the organization. They teach English, Mathematics, Hebrew and other subjects, according to the needs of the students and the educational institutions'. Educational assistance may be at different levels - from reading and writing to preparation for matriculation exams.

The organization currently has 1,500 volunteers, mainly in the central part of Israel. They help some 3,000 students, giving free private lessons on the school premises during school hours or immediately afterwards. The lessons are given individually or in small groups, usually once a week for at least two hours. The school team identifies the children and guides the volunteers as to the individual childrens' needs. Push has added 100,000 hours of assistance to the educational system annually.

Alongside the core activity of the volunteers, Push also offers primary schools professional assistance for children with learning disabilities.

In addition, Push has developed a financial education project for elementary school and high school students, to encourage personal motivation and initiative.

Honors and awards
Odelia Shpitalni has received several awards in Israel for establishing and running Push, including the Presidential Award for volunteers; the Shield of the Minister of Welfare and Social Services; Outstanding Resident award from the Savyon municipal council; and Outstanding Educator award from the Or Yehuda municipality.