Israel
Our interest in Israel is two-fold: We strongly support the Middle East's only democracy as a vital partner for U.S. security interests, and we envision a future in which Israel can shift her focus from precaution to prosperity – a hallmark of a truly thriving democracy. Watch a video on Koret in Israel.
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at Hebrew University
The Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at the Hebrew University was founded in response to Israel's critical need for veterinary training and research. It is the only veterinary school in Israel and is widely considered to be the top vet school in the entire Middle East. Since opening its doors in 1985, the Koret School has become especially renowned for its pioneering equine program. Its dual mission is to produce international leadership in research and treatment, particularly for the healthy and efficient production of livestock as well as in companion animals.
Israel Economic Development
Koret's signature initiative in Israel is Koret Israel Economic Development Funds (KIEDF), which channels philanthropic dollars to leverage financing and policy support for small businesses. KIEDF has grown to become the state's dominant private-sector, small-business development program, helping tens of thousands of Israeli small businesses to create jobs while encouraging economic expansion in the private sector.
Created to prove to the Israeli banking establishment that small-business lending is a low risk, KIEDF partners with the nation's leading banks and has demonstrated that small business is the engine of a free-market economy. The program is overseen by KIEDF Managing Director Carl Kaplan and KIEDF Board Chairman Brig. (Ret.) Eival Gilady.
Key programs include:
- KIEDF Small Business Loan Fund, which works in partnership with bank Otzar Hachayal and Discount Bank to leverage loan guarantees and provide interest subsidies to small businesses lacking access to credit on reasonable terms.
Read profiles of loan recipients (PDF) - Kiva, the powerful web-based microfinance tool that is inspiring a new generation of micro-lenders, which has selected KIEDF as its exclusive field partner in Israel. Together, KIEDF and Kiva can connect to a new generation of lenders and tap a significant new source of funds for job creation at minimal cost.
Read profiles of loan recipients (PDF) - SAWA is a peer-lending program based on the Nobel Prize-winning Grameen model of microfinance. Since the program's inception, it has provided loans and business know-how to over 1,000 Bedouin women.
Read profiles of loan recipients (PDF) - KIEDF Microenterprise Initiative, which provides loan guarantees to economically disadvantaged populations seeking to establish home-based and other small businesses.
Read profiles of loan recipients (PDF) - KIEDF Israeli Arab Loan Fund, which leverages loan guarantees to businesses owned by Israeli Arabs, or jointly owned by Israelis and Israeli Arabs, in partnership with the Center for Jewish and Arab Economic Development (CJAED) and Mercantile Discount Bank.
Read profiles of loan recipients (PDF) - The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which helps U.S. businesses invest overseas and fosters economic development in new and emerging markets.
Read profiles of loan recipients (PDF)
In 2010, Susan Koret (left) visited the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at Hebrew University in Jerusalem to learn firsthand about its training and research programs that make it the top veterinary school in the Middle East.
