Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Israel’s Best Artists Use Creative Talents to Support Special Education; Donate Unique 3D Artworks Based on Used Laptops to Raise Funds at Auction

Bidders outside Israel can place bids before the auction

Tel Aviv, Israel – The Athena Fund, an Israeli nonprofit empowering Israel’s teachers, announced that more than 50 of Israel’s best artists, have donated their artworks to a charity art auction to benefit Israel’s special education teachers. Each artist received an old laptop that is no longer in use (contributed by high-tech companies), and turned it into a unique 3D artwork.

The works will be auctioned off at a gala evening, called ARTiPAD, organized by the Athena Fund. The event will be held at the First International Bank headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 22, 2017. Proceeds will be earmarked for purchasing iPads for special education teachers in Israel. International mentalist Lior Manor will MC the event.

Top Israeli businessmen, industry leaders, philanthropists and art collectors will participate in the live and silent auctions. Bidders outside Israel are able to place bids before the auction. These bids must be in writing and must be submitted at least two days before the auction to [email protected]. The value of the works ranges from $2,000 to $20,000. Bidding will start at $2,000.

Further information about the ARTiPAD auction can be found online at http://www.athenafund.org/?categoryId=8570&itemId=271351. The digital version of the complete auction catalog is available at http://online.fliphtml5.com/jphe/ffvy/#p=82

“We are delighted to be organizing such an exciting, first of its kind auction, supporting Israel’s special education,” said Uri Ben-Ari, Athena Fund’s founder and President. “This fundraiser is another aspect of the Athena Fund’s activity for Israel’s teachers, and an important step in advancing special education in Israel.”

The iPad is especially important in special education. In addition to being an extremely effective tool for the teacher in the classroom, studies have shown that the iPad allows children with special needs to communicate better and more effectively with their environment. For example, the iPad enables children with autism, even those who had never before communicated with their parents and their environment, to interact with their surroundings in a most exciting manner. Many parents have expressed how the iPad has helped them open a window into the soul of their special needs children, and enabled them to talk with them about current and high-level subjects. This has led to a dramatic improvement in the lives of special needs children and their families.

About the Athena Fund

Established in 2006, the Athena Fund is a non-profit organization working to promote the empowerment of teachers in Israel by providing them with tools for self-fulfillment and professional advancement. The Fund was founded by several prominent business leaders under the direction of President Uri Ben-Ari (CEO of UBA Ventures and former Executive VP of Ness Technologies). The Fund’s programs are Laptop Computer for Every Teacher in Israel (launched in 2007), Laptop Computer for Every Kindergarten Teacher (2012), Tablet for Every Science Teacher (2014), and iPad for Every Special Education Teacher (2015). So far, the Athena Fund, together with its partners, has provided laptops, tablets and iPads to approximately 15,000 teachers across Israel, in 1,240 schools and kindergartens in 123 local authorities (municipalities, local and regional councils) according to the Fund’s various programs. Each teacher also receives 120 hours of techno-pedagogical training from professional instructors, with support from the Ministry of Education.

For more information please visit http://www.athenafund.org/index.php?categoryId=8561

Genesis – one of the artworks that will be sold at the auction. A 3D artwork by Yael Pardess, based on an old laptop that is no longer in use. Pardess is a production designer for theme parks, museums shows, theater, environmental design, and more.