"IAC to open its 11th regional office nationwide, working with the Federation to engage and
integrate Israeli-Americans and the Jewish community in Phoenix"

Phoenix, AZ – Today, the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and the Israeli-American Council
(IAC) announced a major joint venture agreement that promises to enrich Jewish life in Arizona
and more closely connect the Jewish-American and Israeli-American communities in the region.
With the launch of the new partnership, the IAC opened its 11th regional office and has assumed
management of the Federation’s popular Israel Center, forming the IAC Arizona Center. It is
located on the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale. Shahar Edry, the former
director of the Israel Center at the Federation, has been named IAC Arizona Regional Director.
Both organizations thank Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson for their vision and support in
establishing IAC Arizona and the joint venture as part of the IAC’s expansion nationwide.
“This partnership marks a significant step forward in our organization’s rapid growth, and sends
a clear message about the powerful unity and synergy between our communities. We believe
that replicating this IAC-Federation collaboration model will bring a new wave of Israeli-
Americans into the Jewish American community,” said IAC Co-Chair and CEO, Shoham Nicolet.
“From Boston to Washington, DC, from Tenafly, New Jersey to Arizona, the IAC is engaging with
our Jewish American partners in unprecedented ways, highlighting how Israeli-Americans and
Jewish-Americans can mutually benefit by working closely together.”
Federation President & CEO Stuart Wachs believes the partnership will capitalize on the
strengths of both organizations, and ultimately increase connections and engagement between
the local Jewish and Israeli-American communities.
“This joint venture will enable two organizations already doing fantastic work engaging
Phoenix’s Israeli-American community to do even more,” said Wachs. “With our combined
resources and brand recognition, the IAC and the Federation will be able to serve the
community more broadly, advancing our shared values and interests.”
IAC-Federation Joint Venture 2/2
For many years, the Federation’s Israel Center has offered an array of programming to integrate
Phoenix’s Israeli-American community with the local Jewish community. By combining forces
with the IAC, the two organizations will leverage their capabilities, connections, skillsets, and
leadership to provide better services, more community support, and a stronger bond with the
State of Israel. The partnership also brings the entire portfolio of IAC programs and community
building expertise to Arizona and could serve as a hub of IAC activity for the entire Four Corners
region.
The new entity began operating this month, and held a community kick-off event last Friday,
hosting more than 300 people for IAC Shishi Israeli, a unique Israeli-style Shabbat dinner
program.
About the IAC: The IAC is committed to building an engaged and united Israeli-American
community that strengthens our next generations, the American Jewish community, and the
State of Israel. It cultivates leadership and empowers communities through programs and
initiatives in 27 states, serving more than 250,000 people. For more information about the
Israeli-American Council, please visit www.israeliamerican.org
About the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix: The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix is a
long-standing organization playing a leading role in funding, planning, convening and engaging
the Jewish communities we serve. Israel has always been a central part of the role of the
Federation through both major support of services in Israel as well as building awareness and
support in the local community. The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix has been leading the
way in not only engaging the local Israeli American community but also building strong bridges
to the broader American Jewish community. For more information, please visit
www.jewishphoenix.org
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