New York, August 2, 2022– Karin J. Buchholz has been named Global Executive Director of the Israel Tennis and Education Centers Foundation. The announcement was made today by Erez Vider, CEO of the Israel Tennis and Education Centers (ITEC).
Buchholz will work closely with ITEC’s global board of directors and professional staff in North America and Israel to implement best-in-class fund development strategies, strengthen community outreach, and enhance donor engagement. She will also take a leadership role in steering the organization’s continuing evolution as it communicates its mission to the world.
Founded in 1976, Israel Tennis and Education Centers is a non-profit organization committed to empowering and supporting all of the children of Israel, regardless of background, religion, ethnicity, physical ability or socio-economic status. With 17 centers and 5 satellites in cities and towns throughout Israel, ITEC builds bridges across cultures to reach and connect with children from all communities, including those that are underserved or underrepresented. Dedicated to the principles of equality, excellence, education and leadership, ITEC seeks to create a more peaceful, stable and stronger Israeli society by creating new pathways for communication and understanding.
ITEC’s unique system and approach to tennis education have helped transform Israel, the Middle East and beyond, engendering partnership and and enhancing peace between its peoples, communities and cultures.
ITEC’s CEO Erez Vider said, “Karin has a proven ability to lead non-profits in their fundraising initiatives. She has experience working with at risk and marginalized youth. And, look at her background in sports, both as an executive and a premiere athlete. Add this to her collegial style of problem solving and Karin’s unique skill set makes her ideally positioned to spearhead the ITEC Foundation.”
A former professional tennis player, and top youth sports and nonprofit executive, Buchholz comes to ITEC after serving as Head of Development for GLSEN, an organization fighting for the rights of marginalized young people in schools across the United States.
Her broad-based background and experience includes leadership positions with some of the most high-profile and prestigious athletic organizations in the world: from executive positions with NY Knicks, NY Rangers and NY Liberty to director level positions with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee to senior positions with the NBA and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
With all of this experience, Bucholz was drawn to ITEC saying, “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the ITEC Foundation. In many ways, I feel that everything I have done up to this point has led me to this moment. It is a privilege to join an organization that is doing the hard work of bringing peace, cross-cultural understanding and a brighter future to a part of the world that has known so much conflict. I look forward to being a part of the effort to make a positive difference in the lives of all Israeli children.”
About Israel Tennis and Education Centers (ITEC)
Israel Tennis and Education Centers (ITEC) creates hope, builds friendships and inspires dreams by providing opportunities to support every child who lives in Israel regardless of geography, religion, ethnicity, physical ability or socioeconomic status. Through its programs, ITEC helps to build a stronger and more peaceful state of Israel.
Though tennis is at the core of what ITEC offers, tennis is only the first step in a much broader program of personal growth, centered around emotional and social development. Tennis is the way in, the tool that empowers the children of ITEC to learn the life skills that will help them pursue their dreams. ITEC embraces children of all abilities and physical skills.
The ITEC Foundation, the development arm of ITEC, is based in New York City, Florida and Toronto.