Emergency Funds Save Lives
All You Need to Know About Life-Saving Funds
The media is always full of stories about people in need of urgent operations, transplants, expensive medical equipment or drugs unavailable from the health agencies.
People are fighting for their lives. Not only do they have to cope with their medical situation, they also have to confront economic collapse and ask for support.
They urgently need tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it's extremely hard to raise that kind of money without the help of a charity allowing for tax-deductible donations.
"Haverim-Friends for Health" specializes in managing life-saving funds precisely for these purposes.
The "Friends for Health" Center manages life-saving funds for many ill people. If you wish to donate to save lives, you are welcome to read some of the personal stories behind the life-saving funds list, or on the funds pages, and choose your preferred recipient. You can also be absolutely sure your donation will be transferred directly to the specific fund you chose, for medical purposes only.
In the event of funds remaining in an account when the recipient no longer needs medical treatment, the money will be used to support other sick people.
The information included here:
• How to donate to a life-saving fund
• Regulations for opening a personal life-saving fund
• Treating all the patient's problems
• What expenses does the life-saving fund cover?
• Account transparency for the fund recipient
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How to donate to a life-saving fund
You can donate in a number of ways to the life-saving funds managed by the "Friends for Health" Center:
By Credit Card to the Fund Recipient
By Check in the Fund Recipient's Name
You can send a check to the "Haverim-Friends for Health" Center, or deposit it directly into the fund account.
To receive a receipt, please ensure that the address on the check is correct.
If you deposit a check directly into the fund account, please fax the deposit confirmation to 972-3-579-2223, or call the "Friends for Health" Center 972-3-579-2220 with the deposit details and the exact address to which to send the receipt.
By Bank Transfer Directly into the Fund Recipient's Account
If you deposit a check directly into the fund account, please fax the deposit confirmation to 972-3-579-2223, or call the "Friends for Health" Center 972-3-579-2220 with the deposit details and the exact address to which to send the receipt.
The "Friends for Health" Center is committed to financial transparency and regulated management.
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To read all the material on the subject and print out our official charity papers, read the article on financial transparency.
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Every donation is tax-deductible according to clause 46a.
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We will send a receipt by mail for every donation.
If someone who wishes to open a fund asks for a temporary receipt book, they will have to commit to sending copies to "Friends", attaching the amounts collected and/or the bank deposits made into the fund. They will also return the books to the charity whenever they are requested to do so.
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Regulations for opening a personal
life-saving fund
Any sick person faced with an urgent medical crisis involving raising funds, or a relative, can call "Friends for Health" to ask for a preliminary interview to open a personal life-saving fund.
The person must bring the relevant medical documents, a short letter describing the situation to serve as the initial draft donation request, and a recent photo (if the person wants it to appear on the site or have it attached to the donation request.)
The interview offers a chance to get to know each other. The relevant documents are presented and filed and the applicants sign a fund opening contract with a "Friends" representative. We open a bank account in the sick person's name and draft a fundraising letter describing the situation and giving details of the new account.
At the end of the interview, we provide applicants with copies of the letter, self-addressed "Friends" envelopes and receipt books if necessary.
The person's family, relatives and friends will raise funds with the organization's help. We offer them fundraising guidance when we open the fund.
An account that lies dormant for three months will be automatically closed without prior warning and its contents will be transferred to another sick person.
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Treating all the patient's problems
Apart from the immediate crisis demanding fundraising for urgent medical needs, the patients also suffer from bureaucratic and medical difficulties for which they need advice, support and guidance.
"Friends for Health" staff are well-versed in the issues, have warm connections with medical authorities and have an extensive database of professionally-qualified volunteers. Parallel to managing the fund, they will also try to help the patient with any other issues they may have.
For patients needing help in acquiring expensive drugs, we offer an extra resource – "Friends Medication Recycling Project."
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What expenses does the life-saving fund cover?
All funds collected in the fund account will be given to the recipient solely for medical expenses, or in lieu of a direct transfer to the drug company for purchasing a particular drug, or to the treating medical institution in Israel or abroad.
The contents of the fund will also pay for the following expenses:
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The necessary medical treatment, as needed.
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Flight tickets for the patient and escorts (as needed).
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Expenses incurred through issuing passports and/or visas.
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Expenses incurred through overseas accommodation and travel (for the patient and escorts.)
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Other expenses related to the medical treatment, after approval from "Friends" support committee.
All donations raised for the life-saving fund will be at the patient's disposal.
The "Friends for Health" Center makes no use whatsoever of the fund money. The only external costs deducted from the fund (apart from medical treatment) are those connected to managing and maintaining the bank account. See details in the attached contract.
Account transparency for the fund recipient
Every account recipient or family signatory will receive ongoing reports on request, and account statements by fax or email. "Friends for Health" operates an internal account system to answer questions from donors or recipients, provide forms or deal with any bureaucratic problems that may arise.
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