Richard Maize Expands Philanthropic Efforts

Aug. 23, 2009 - PRLog -- Los Angeles --- Richard Maize, co-founder of the Richard Maize Foundation, was appointed as a member of the Committee of 18, which supported the 18th Maccabiah World Games that took place in Israel earlier this year.

The Committee, comprised of 18 members, committed themselves to raising funds for the Maccabiah Games. The influential group’s members range from leading businessmen, community leaders and others from the entertainment industry. With the goal of raising the level of the Maccabiah Games, they dedicated themselves to raising more than $1.5 million. These funds were distributed among 350 athletes who would have been unable to participate in the games had it not been for help from the Committee of 18.  

The teens had trained extensively for the Games, but their families were unable to afford the expenses involved in traveling to Israel. The funds raised by the Committee of 18 went towards sponsoring delegates from less fortunate communities in East Europe, the former Soviet Union Republics, India and Latin America.

“It was truly an honor and privilege for me to become an active working member of this dedicated group of renowned leaders who came together as a small, but powerful force, to highlight the importance of the 18th Maccabiah Games,” said Richard Maize.      

Maize continues: “I am firmly committed to do everything I can, personally and through my Richard Maize Foundation, to support the committee in its mission to raise awareness for future Maccabiah games and ensure that deserving athletes are afforded the opportunity to compete in Israel.”

The Committee of 18 takes its name from the Hebrew letters for Chai, or Life. According to Hebrew numerology, the number 18 means life.

Membership to the Committee of 18 is by invitation only. As all 18 members are of equal status, they are all considered co-chairs of the committee with no elected officers.

Richard Maize and the Committee of 18 worked towards increasing the exposure for the games from commercial sponsors, sought out television opportunities with major agencies in Los Angeles and worked towards clothing sponsorships and endorsements.

The Maccabiah Games brought teenage athletes from Diaspora countries to join together for over two weeks of sports competitions, touring Israel, meeting Israelis and socializing with their fellow athletes.

The total experience was a long-lasting one for these teenagers. They were expertly guided around to important sites in Israel such as the Western Wall, Yad Vashem, Masada, the Dead Sea and Galilee, making the Maccabiah Games one of Israel’s largest tourism campaigns. The Games drew as many as 18,000 team supporters and tourists, adding around $80 million to Israel’s economy.

Deemed as the largest display of international Jewish fellowship and solidarity, the Richard Maize Foundation generously supported these young athletes and in so doing encouraged positive international publicity to Israel.

As members of the Committee of 18, each of the co-chairs were invited to attend the Maccabiah Games with their families as VIP guests, tour Israel, and enjoy the festivities. They enjoyed watching the events from prime spots and cheered the young athletes on to outstanding athletic performances.

Eyal Tiberger, Director-General and Executive Director of the 18th Maccabiah Games, worked from his office in Ramat Gan, Israel to develop the infrastructure and coordinate and delegate the important tasks involved in planning such an important event. International police forces, sports officials and even the Homeland Security Agency in the United States studied the security techniques and systems that were developed in Israel. The Committee of 18 served as an official advisor to Mr. Tiberger during the games, offering well-placed guidance and advice concerning entertainment, media, P.R. and marketing, advertising, commerce, business, finance and philanthropy.

The Maccabiah Games are a quadrennial sports, educational, and cultural event that takes place in Israel. This year Israel hosted 3,000 young athletes in what is referred to as the third largest sporting event in the world. The athletes, aged 15-18, included 2,000 masters, 5,000 open athletes and Paralympics, with more than 2,000 athletes on the team from Israel.
Jewish communities throughout the world take part in the Maccabiah Games. This includes over 400,000 Jews in 400 different organizations located in 60 countries.

Before departing from the U.S. to attend the Games, Richard Maize hosted some of the members of the Committee of 18 at his home in Beverly Hills. Los Angeles resident and entertainer Kirk Douglas was among the attendees. As Douglas related, “I am very excited about these games, because sport is an international language that brings people together, not tears them apart.”

Richard Maize and the Committee of 18 also joined Israel Defense Forces pilots and soldiers from the Israel Air Force at the Tel-Nof Air Force Base in Israel.

“This was my first visit to Israel, and I was amazed by the warmth and strength of these Jews who built a Jewish state and turned a barren desert into a green paradise. But what struck me more than anything was how tiny and resilient this democratic state is. That the people of Israel have suffered and bled from hundreds of barbaric Islamic terror attacks. The Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation is now exploring how we can provide assistance to the victims of Islamic terrorism both in the U.S. and in Israel,” said Maize.

Richard Maize says he was “very moved by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, the Western Wall in Jerusalem and Masada by the Dead Sea. Tears came to my eyes at Yad VaShem. I think it is very difficult for many Jews and non-Jews to actually comprehend the genocide that took place in Europe. And for this reason we should all be very proud of this Jewish state and the Israel Defense Forces and other Israel security forces which were established to protect Israel.”

Richard Maize especially enjoyed watching his fellow U.S. Jews compete against the Israel Maccabiah basketball team. “This was one of the most exciting events at the 18th Maccabiah,” says Maize. “The game was fought hard by both sides and went into overtime. The fact the U.S. won was overshadowed by the warm smiles and embraces displayed by both the players of Israel and Team U.S.A.”

As a young and ambitious graduate from California State University, Northridge, Richard Maize began his business career investing in Southern California real estate. In 1988, Richard Maize co-founded a mortgage banking company that has grown into one of the largest and most well-regarded mortgage brokerage firms in the country.

An engaged and involved member of his local community in the US, Richard Maize continues to be involved professionally and personally in relevant causes. Through the foundation, Richard Maize contributions focus on working with various non-profit organizations, charitable endeavors and finding ways that will have the greatest ability to positively impact the lives of others.

A leader, mentor and dedicated mortgage professional, Richard Maize resides in Beverly Hills along with his wife and foundation co-founder, Rochelle Atlas Maize and their two daughters, Amanda and Ally.

The Richard Maize Foundation generously supports a number of foundations, organizations and non-profit groups. The philanthropic organization also contributes volunteer and financial resources to local communities and to global causes, focusing on arts, culture, family services and healthcare.

Learn more about the RIchard Maize Foundation at: http://www.richardmaizefoundation.com and http://hunters66.wordpress.com

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