It was a fortuitous day during summer when I popped in briefly to see my children in Modiin. Sitting at their kitchen table having lunch were two smiling women whom I had not met before. They were introduced as their good friends from the US, Laura Galinson and Jane Fantel. After regaling them with a quick review of my busy activities with ESRA, I apologized that I was in a rush and with an “it-was-nice-to-meet-you”, made my way to the door. At which point Laura responded quietly, "I am a funder." I literally stopped in my tracks, took a deep breath and sat down.

Half an hour later, I left Laura with a promise to send her a proposal for a facilitator for a parents' support group at Neve ESRA, an afternoon care center for children at risk that we had recently adopted as our Modiin specific project. Within two weeks the proposal was in the mail; within one month the project was funded together with Laura's ongoing commitment to support the project for the following two years.

In December 2010, Laura, Jane and her daughter, Hannah, visited Neve ESRA to meet with the new facilitator and to learn how – through a variety of tailor-made parenting programs - the project will directly impact upon the parents, and by extension, the children. Also there were Yaacov Almog, municipal director of the welfare department, and Seffi Rosenberg, municipal social work coordinator of Neve ESRA. When I showed Laura the room (actually the security room) that serves for individual and group therapy, she cut to the chase and offered an increased commitment that will not only support the proper furnishing of the therapy room, but other urgent objectives as well.

Laura is a dream funder. Practical, unassuming and disarming, she puts everyone at ease with her calm and straightforward demeanor. She listens intently, recognizes the needs, and reacts swiftly. At the same time, Laura is 'amcha' (one of us) in every sense of the word - she even keeps the ESRA Magazine on her desk at home - as underscored by her partner Jane, herself a fundraiser, who pointed out their Hebrew names, Anat (Laura), Yael (Jane) and Hannah, well that is an easy one. 

The meaning of integrity is this: "We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give". Laura altogether embodies that spirit, along with the promise of a better future. She has the power to give, and she does, without seeking fanfare or glory. She gets down to brass tacks and gets the job done. Just like ESRA. How fortunate and proud we are to have her on our side. "To Laura, may you go from strength to strength." 

Cynthia Barmor is co-chair of ESRA Modiin.