IKEA in Israel helps renovate therapy center for toddlers with disabilities

The renovation was made possible after Ikea and Akim began fund-raising campaign this past summer.

By DANIELLE ZIRI
A daycare in Israel (photo credit: Zoog Productions)
A daycare in Israel
(photo credit: Zoog Productions)
Furniture megastore Ikea, NGO Akim, which promotes the integration of people with mental disabilities in Israel, and NGO Chimes Israel, which aims to provide services for people with special needs, inaugurated this week Chimes’s freshly renovated educational and therapeutic center for toddlers with disabilities in Jaffa.
The renovation was made possible after Ikea and Akim began a fund-raising campaign for children with disabilities this past summer and managed to raise more than NIS 100,000.
The operation, which involved both Ikea branches – in Rishon Lezion and Netanya – consisted of IKEA donating NIS 5 to the cause from every meal purchased by customers at the store’s restaurant. In addition, some of the children of customers who purchased meals participated in helping with the renovation.
Jorge Zimmermann, director-general of Chimes Israel, welcomed the “mobilization of Ikea Israel and the NGO Akim for the benefit Children of Chimes” at the inauguration ceremony, which took place on Monday.
“Cooperations between business entities and nonprofit associations necessarily benefit both parties,” he said, adding that he appreciated “the spirit of volunteering, giving and investing, which is not to be taken for granted.”
CEO of Ikea Israel Shlomi Gabai stated that the company sees its partnership with Akim as “an integral part of the vision and values of Ikea to make everyday life better.
“Accordingly, we feel an obligation to increase the awareness of society to the needs of people with disabilities,” he continued.
“We were also delighted to integrate into the project the children of our customers, who voluntarily helped renovate the center and who have been practicing values of giving and helping others.”