From Jewish history, we know the Israelites felt trapped when facing the Sea of Reeds. But there was one person who did not hesitate, jumping directly into the water. Nachshon ben Aminadav’s selfless act left an indelible mark upon our nation.
In Spring 2020, we faced a similarly precarious scenario. During the early days of COVID, many of us were uncertain and reluctant to move forward. But Evan and Layla Green sprang into action. While the world was shutting down, they confidently forged forward.
In March 2020, AMIT Executive Vice President Andrew Goldsmith received an unexpected phone call from Evan, telling him that the Evan & Layla Green Family Foundation would pledge a multimillion-dollar gift to launch AMIT’s Kfar Batya new campus. “It was an act of philanthropic heroism, pure and simple,” says Goldsmith. “When the whole world turned dark, Evan and Layla lit a torch, which gave us a huge organizational boost of confidence.”
The Evan & Layla Green Family Foundation Gogya Building and Program will serve as the heart of AMIT Kfar Batya, welcoming local and visiting students as well as top educators. It will also become home to AMIT’s new headquarters and the Educators’ Innovation Center, an incubator for the development of ideas to be shared across AMIT’s 96 schools and the entire education system in Israel. The center will serve as a beacon of inspiration to the education community worldwide.
“Why wouldn’t you want to be first?” Evan asks. “To be a major part of this campus is a unique opportunity. Your giving goes beyond a building. You’re part of a one-of-a-kind environment that is not only changing the education system in Israel, but has the potential to impact teaching methodologies all over the world.”
“COVID quickly reminded us that education can’t be static. We live in a dynamic world where technology and circumstances constantly change,” Layla Green explains. “It’s an unprecedented campus designed to discover new educational methods and see firsthand what works best.”
The Greens are proud to lead the way in making the Kfar Batya campus a reality. They hope their gift will inspire others who share a passion for Israel, innovation, and education to take leaps of their own and support this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Evan is a visionary entrepreneur who founded Personiv, an outsourcing company with a team of 3,000 people worldwide. Layla owns a successful skin care business. Both desire to make a difference through philanthropy and by breaking new ground.
Carolyn B. Green, Evan’s late mother, influenced Evan’s decades-long connection to AMIT. A longtime AMIT supporter, she instilled in her children the importance of giving in many ways, from placing tzedakah boxes around the house to having frequent conversations about giving. “Growing up with supportive parents in a middle-class American family put me ahead of most everyone on the planet,” Evan asserts. “I believe in paying my good fortunes forward. And when you elevate a child’s performance, it’s a gift that keeps giving.”
In 2015, Evan and Layla participated in AMIT’s 90th Israel Mission—a turning point for the couple in terms of their personal philanthropy. “We spoke with educators, teachers, and principals and saw firsthand how AMIT works, particularly with students who are on the periphery. Many of the students come from homes that are economically disadvantaged,” the Greens explain. “It was touching to see kids who did not excel in traditional academic environments and learn how AMIT gave them a pathway to reach their full potential and flourish.”
The Greens were especially moved by their tour of AMIT’s mishpachtonim, the family unit apartments that provide a safe and loving refuge for children from difficult homes. The children live at the mishpachtonim during the week with a warm and caring married couple who act as supportive surrogate parents. After their trip, the Green family sponsored a mishpachtonim at AMIT Kfar Blatt Youth Village in memory of Evan’s mother—a fitting tribute for a woman who gave so much of herself to help others. “AMIT’s educators are great human beings,” affirm the Greens. “Their hearts are in the right place—with the kids.”
On the mission to Israel, the Greens were amazed by what they saw at the current Gogya Center. “Gogya is the brain trust that makes AMIT exceptional,” they say, describing it as “turning education on its head.”
Gogya has positioned Israel to be a world leader in educational methodologies. Rather than relegating students to lecture-based classrooms with static seating, this 21st-century educational modality accounts for the fact that children have all the information they need right in their pockets, thanks to the ubiquity of cell phones. “What kids need is to learn how to interpret and apply that knowledge; they need collaborative learning environments,” the Greens explain. Another distinguishing factor of Gogya is its values-based education. “Gogya educates students to be responsible citizens,” they affirm. “It instills values to make them powerful students, caring brothers and sisters, and capable leaders in life.”
Gogya’s strong focus on measurability and data also appeals to the Greens. “AMIT measures results in tangible terms: How do AMIT’s bagrut diploma rates compare to the national average? What percentage of students serve in the IDF or go into national service? What’s the annual growth rate of AMIT’s new Entrepreneurial Academy? Whether you invest in real estate or a charitable cause, you want to make sure you’re getting a great return on your investment,” Evan contends.
Evan and Layla volunteer and support local community initiatives in Las Vegas, where they live. Evan is a member of AMIT’s National Board and serves as Regional Vice President for the West Coast. The Evan & Layla Green Family Foundation focuses much of its grant-making on helping underprivileged children. The Foundation is headed by the Greens along with their niece, Lauren Green-Turgeman. Lauren is a talented publicist who, after her Birthright trip, taught English to underprivileged children in Israel. “We have a special place in our hearts for underprivileged kids,” say the Greens. “Kids don’t have a lot of control over their circumstances. If a child grows up in a household where they face physical abuse, mental abuse, or hunger, there’s not a lot they can do about that.”
For the Greens, AMIT Kfar Batya goes beyond providing kids with a world-class education. It’s about securing the future of Israel, giving the Jewish people a homeland for generations to come.
“Children are the future of any nation. When you educate a child, you change a life. When you educate many children, you strengthen a nation. And when you break ground in new educational methodologies, you can change the world. That’s what AMIT’s new Kfar Batya campus represents to us,” the Greens say.
Following Nachshon ben Aminadav’s biblical lead, Evan and Layla Green didn’t hesitate. They leaped forward in uncertain times, and they welcome others to be part of AMIT’s one-of-a-kind new Kfar Batya campus.
