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Richard Maize Foundation Develops Maccabiah, Aids Terror Victims
By Herb
Brandon Jerusalem, Israel ---- July 26, 2009 ..... Richard Maize, one of North America's most respected real estate investors, has just returned home to Los Angeles from the 18th Maccabiah Israel Jewish Olympics. Richard Maize is a member of the Committee of 18 Supporting the 18th Maccabiah World Games in Israel. Committee of 18 members are among Los Angeles business, entertainment and community leaders who committed themselves to raising over 1.5 million USD to elevate the Maccabiah globally and enable 350 qualifying athletes who otherwise would not be able participate, a chance to compete in Israel at the 18th Maccabiah Games. "It is truly an honor and privilege for me to become an active working member of this dedicated group of renowned leaders who have come together as a small, but powerful force, to highlight the importance of the 18th Maccabiah Games," said Richard Maize, co-founder of the Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation. "I am firmly committed to do everything I can, personally and through my Foundation, to support the committee in its mission to raise awareness for the Maccabiah games and ensure that deserving athletes are afforded the opportunity to compete in Israel." The World Maccabiah Games are a quadrennial sports, cultural and educational event that takes place in Israel. The 18th World Maccabiah Games, which took place July 12 – 23, 2009 are the world’s third largest international athletic competition. As the world’s third largest sports event after the Olympics, the 18th Maccabiah Games in Israel plays host to 3,000 junior Maccabiah athletes, aged 15 -18; 5,000 open athletes, 2,000 masters and Paralympics. In addition to the visitors, Israel hosted a team of more than 2,000 athletes. Sports for which competitors went for Gold include: artistic gymnastics, badminton, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, bridge, cricket, chess, fencing, golf, gymnastics, handball, half-marathon, field hockey, judo, karate, netball, lawn bowls, rowing, rugby, squash, soccer, softball, swimming, table-tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, track and field, ten-pin bowling, volleyball, water polo, wrestling and windsurfing. Maccabi is
active in Jewish communities throughout the world. The Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports and contributes volunteer and financial resources to causes locally in the community and worldwide by supporting meaningful programs focusing on art, culture, family services and healthcare that work to help people live more fulfilling lives. Richard Maize has generously supported organizations and causes including the American Cancer Society, Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Hurricane Katrina, Los Angeles Police Foundation, and Cedars Sinai Board of Governors. Richard Maize hosted many members of the Committee of 18 meeting at their Beverly Hills home before departing for the 18th Maccabiah. Members include David Kotler, Steve Soboroff, Los Angeles Dodgers President Jamie McCourt and entertainment industry leader, philanthropist and Los Angeles resident Kirk Douglas. "I am very excited about these games," Douglas said. "Because sport is an international language that brings people together, not tears them apart." "We are very fortunate to have Kirk Douglas supporting the Maccabiah," says Maize. "Kirk played the role of David Marcus in the 1966 film Cast A Giant Shadow. He knows all too well how Israel was established and the past and present challenges that Israel faces." Richard Maize and The Maccabiah Committee of 18, joined IDF pilots and soldiers from the Israel Air Force at the Tel-Nof Air Force base. “For us, it is important to work for the Maccabiah games in order to raise the level of awareness and bring people to Israel to see what they are fighting for and to understand the importance of the cause,” said Steve Soboroff, the head of the Committee and a businessman from Los Angeles. “People have to know that without the IDF, Israel would not exist and that it is important to support the existence of the Defense Forces.” "The $4,500 direct cost for each team member is an impossible financial reach for some athletes, and thanks to the commitment of the Committee of 18 members in Los Angeles, people from throughout the world will see their dreams come true," said Eyal Tiberger, Director-General of the Maccabi World Union. One team that will compete thanks to the support from the Los Angeles leaders is the cricket team from Mumbai, India. Members of that team were colleagues of the Jewish leaders slain in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. "This was my first visit to Israel," said Richard Maize. "I was amazed by the warmth and strength of these Jews who built a Jewish state and turned a barren desert into a green paradise. But what struck me more than anything was how tiny and resilient this democratic state is. That the people of Israel have suffered and bled from hundreds of barbaric Islamic terror attacks. The Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation is now exploring how we can provide assistance to the victims of Islamic terrorism both in the US and in Israel." Maize, is a secular Jew but still prays and wraps tefillin daily. Tefillin serves as a "sign" and "remembrance" that God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and serves in the fulfillment of the scriptural commandments prescribing them to be worn by Jews. "I was very moved by the Yad Veshem Holocaust Memorial, the Western Wall in Jerusalem and Masada by the Dead Sea," said Maize. "Tears came to my eyes at Yad Veshem. I think it is very difficult for many Jews and non-Jews to actually comprehend the genocide that took place in Europe. And for this reason we should all be very proud of this Jewish state and the Israel Defense Forces and other Israel security forces which were established to protect Israel." Maize was also very proud to watch US Jews take on the Israel Maccabiah basketball team. "This was one of the most exciting events at the 18th Maccabiah," says Maize. "The game was fought hard by both sides and went into overtime. The fact the US won was overshadowed by the warm smiles and embraces displayed by both the players of Israel and Team USA." Maize, who operated the largest the mortgage banking company in the US, continues: "The US and Israel have so many good, solid democratic and family values in common. It was great to see this friendly match between the Jews of Israel and the US. I can only imagine how well the Israel Defense Forces and the US military cooperate when they get together in fighting terrorism in this region." Richard Maize and his wife, Rochelle Maize, are longtime benefactors of the American Cancer Society, among many other organizations, and Richard Maize has been recognized for its efforts on behalf of more than a dozen charitable groups and community projects. The Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation supports an extraordinary number of foundations, organizations, and non-profit groups. The Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports and contributes volunteer and financial resources to community and global causes by supporting programs focusing on art, culture, family services, and healthcare. The Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation’s efforts also help people with cancer and those who care for them lead live more fulfilling lives. The Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation supports the Friends of Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif. For three days in 2008, the Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation helped sponsor the California Spirit XXIV for the Vital Work of the American Cancer Society. The Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation also supported the “Accessories for Success Lunch and Fashion Show Benefit” for the Big Brothers / Big Sisters (BBBS) of Greater Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. In this capacity, the Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation supported the luncheon and fashion show to benefit the organization’s founding mission of helping children reach their potential through one-on-one mentoring relationships. As a young and ambitious graduate from California State University, Northridge, Richard Maize began his business career investing in Southern California real estate. In 1988, he co-founded a mortgage banking company that has grown into one of the largest and most well-regarded mortgage brokerage firms in the country. With an entrepreneurial spirit and tireless effort, Richard Maize expanded his business and became known as an industry expert, regularly appearing as a commentator for KCAL-TV news sharing his insights about real estate trends, marketing and finance. Richard Maize
was also a frequent guest on KWHY-TV’s Mortgage Update segments,
articulately discussing the volatilities of the real estate industry.
An innovator always intent on finding solutions, Richard developed
the "Power Pak" loan processing software which today
is rated as one of the best technologies in the industry. A leader, mentor and dedicated mortgage professional, Richard Maize resides in Beverly Hills along with his wife and foundation co-founder, Rochelle Atlas Maize and their two daughters, Amanda and Ally. Richard, Rochelle and Amanda Maize have proved philanthropy isn't far from flipping burgers: the Maize family served In-N-Out's famous "double-double" burgers to the students at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services to kick off the new year in January. Rochelle Maize was among those honored at the Los Angeles Business Journal’s seventeenth annual Women Making a Difference Awards. More than 200 women community leaders in philanthropy gathered at a gala reception and luncheon at the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles to honor those who have made the greatest contributions business and in the communities they serve over the last year. Together with her husband, Richard, the Maize Foundation has been reaching out to help those in need from LA to Jerusalem. In addition to her work with the Foundation, Maize works to partner with her clients to contribute part of each transaction to the clients’ charity of choice, or to one of Maize’s preferred charities. "I was always focused in how I could contribute and give back to my community in LA," says Richard Maize. "I believe my wife and I have inspired both our children. My daughter Alexandra founded the Green Youth Movement while Amanda took a Birthright trip to Israel and came back very excited." Maize concludes:
"This trip to Israel has opened my eyes to several other
causes. Helping the innocent victims of Islamic terrorism, from
9/11 in the US to the blown out buses and restaurants of Israel,
we will find the means to help many of these families recover
and get back on their feet."
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