Help Matty Reid serve in Israel.

Hi! This is Matty. I just graduated from Baldwin Wallace University after majoring in Special Education and playing football. I am excited to share my next big opportunity with you: Yahel Israel. As part of this program, I will get to spend next school year immersed in Israel, working and giving, teaching and growing, and getting to see this beautiful country and its people from the inside. And that's why I need your support.

As a fellow in Yahel Israel's most immersive volunteer program, I will be working at the forefront of educational and social issues facing Israel and its people and will become better equipped with the tools to create meaningful, lasting change. Whether it’s teaching English to Ethiopian Israelis or helping local NGO staff further a project or countless other opportunities, I will become deeply involved in the grassroots Israel experience and in the communities I will be serving. Part of my training will include working to learn the language (something I am really looking forward to) as well as the culture of Israel. I am so excited about this as well as the actual "serving" that is the focus of this fellowship. Upon my return home in June of 2024, I will be able to bring these experiences and tools back to my own local community and will be able to more meaningfully impact the students and families that I will be serving here.

I want to be very transparent about all things money. I know that $15,000 is a lot and I realize that it is not the responsibility of anyone but myself to raise that money. So here are some details. The cost of the program itself is $14,500. This amount does not include airfare there or back, which could potentially be $3000 round trip by the time September 2023 and June 2024 roll around. I am also participating in a month-long site visit in June which will expose me to the people, culture, language, and geography of Israel so I can hit the ground running when I start the fellowship in September. The airfare for that is about $1500 as well. With that being said, please know that I am definitely doing everything I can to cover the cost of this program myself. I have worked 3 jobs this school year, as well as doing my student teaching since I found out about this program. Starting next week, I will be working about 50-60 hours a week combined as I start my first teaching job as a full-time sub in the Berea school district and continue my current job at the Cleveland Playhouse. I am saving as much money as I can from these two jobs to go toward Yahel Israel. I am also taking into consideration the stipend of about 1000 shekels a month that I get paid as part of the fellowship. This equals about $280 per month. My plan is to use this money for any excursions, giving opportunities, or unexpected activities that are not included in the program fee. My hope is that I won't have any emergency expenses. But, should there be, the plan is for this monthly stipend to cover them as well.

I know that this has been a long and difficult season of tight finances for everyone and I appreciate you even being willing to read this far. If you are not able to give or are not interested in giving, that is absolutely fine. I understand. Either way, please include me in your prayers. That's where the real change happens!