10TH ANNIVERSARY SUPPORTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN  “SMALL CHANGE/BIG DIFFERENCE”
In recognition of National Autism Awareness Month, EL AL Israel Airlines is proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its in-flight fundraising program called “Small Change/Big Difference.” This initiative, in partnership with Bank Hapoalim, offers EL AL passengers worldwide the opportunity to donate any leftover change that remains from their overseas trip to two important Israeli organizations.
On every flight, EL AL invites passengers to deposit leftover change in any currency into envelopes in the seat pockets. The money is then collected and sorted, converted to shekels and transferred by Bank Hapoalim directly to Aleh, Israel’s largest network of care for developmentally delayed children, and Alut, Israel’s national society for autistic children. Knowing that small change can make a big difference in the lives of thousands of special needs children, EL AL launched the program in 2005, which has since raised approximately $4 million.
Donations from EL AL passengers in the past year alone totaled close to $500,000 which was used to open a treatment center for autistic toddlers as well as a hospital wing, launch a day care center for autistic school children, develop training centers, expand outpatient clinic services and create retreats for families of autistic children.
EL AL continues to encourage its managers and staff to volunteer and implement the airline’s personal and organizational values of partnership and cohesion. The airline helps employee’s locate settings for volunteer work, make connections with volunteer institutions and provides instructional materials.