Each year, the pro-Israel organization at the University of California, Los Angeles, Bruins for Israel, hosts an event called Achy Breaky Heart. Bruins for Israel are the pro-Israel and pro-peace group at UCLA, and a CCAP group. The event is cosponsored by GlobeMed, an organization that empowers students and communities to improve the health of people living in poverty around the world. The goals of the event this year were to raise money for Save a Child’s Heart, the Israeli organization that provides free heart surgery for children from developing countries, as well as the Nwoya Youth Center, which provides Ugandan youth with sexual education. At the event this year, Bruins for Israel raised $3,000 for both Save a Child’s Heart and the Nwoya Youth Center.
The event featured many interactive and informational booths about Israel. The student leaders felt that they were able to educate students about Israel through their Bruins for Israel booth. About 450 people showed up, and the audience was engaged and enjoyed the program. Even Joe and Josephine Bruin, the UCLA mascots, made an appearance! Students enjoyed spending their tickets to take pictures with the mascots at the photo booth.
At the event, a video of GlobeMed former president Leah Paz was shown. Paz spoke about Save a Child’s Heart and other humanitarian aid projects in Israel. Each year the event strengthens the connection between Bruins for Israel and GlobeMed by informing students about the tie between GlobeMed, humanitarian aid in Israel, and Israel’s global efforts.
Contributed by CAMERA intern Nikki Teperman
