AMERICA-ISRAEL FRIENDSHIP LEAGUE, TUCSON CHAPTER 4625 East Broadway, Suite 207 Tucson, AZ. 85711 Phone (520) 322-9544 Fax (520) 322-0246 e-mail address: aifl1@mindspring.com website: www.aifl.org

The Tucson Chapter of the America-Israel Friendship League (AIFL) is made up of individuals who represent different faiths, political persuasions, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. AIFL promotes dialogue and awareness about cultural and spiritual values shared by the people of the United States and Israel. The charge: To invigorate people-to-people ties. The Tucson Chapter opened its "doors" on January 9, 1990 when past participants in the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona's Interfaith Missions convened at the home of John and Nancy Huerta to express their ongoing commitment to Israel. The Mission graduates envisioned a local organization with an overwhelming emphasis on education for both adults and young people. Their aspirations melded with the existing national program of the AIFL, inspiring this core group to establish an outpost in Tucson.

Since 1990, the Tucson Chapter has sponsored over one hundred Tucson-area high school students in the U.S.-Israel High School Student Youth Ambassador Exchange program. The exchange program was restricted to high school juniors from the Tucson Unified School District, however, in 1999, the Chapter expanded the program to include the participation of four more Tucson-area school districts: Amphitheater, Catalina Foothills, Marana and Sunnyside. Few things inspire more hope than listening to students who have an unvarnished ability to see the world as it could be. Students from Tucson return home with stories of how Israeli students are just like them.

In 1999 a new initiative was launched by the national AIFL with the participation of the Tucson Chapter. The U.S.- Israel 'Citizenship Through Sports' Youth Exchange program will develop leadership and promote non-violence among high school students through the values taught in sports.

In addition to the youth exchange programs, the Cycle of Life program combines the custom of planting trees in the names of loved ones with the development of a friendship grove in a city park near Kino and 36th Street in the Quincie Douglas neighborhood. The Friendship Grove offers an opportunity for tree planting in Tucson and Israel and stand as a living tribute to life and friendship.

Every year, the Tucson Chapter produces a full-page birthday ad expressing support for our Israeli friends. Hundreds of individuals from all ethnic, religious and political backgrounds place their names in celebration of the anniversary of the State of Israel. Two new adult exchange programs are currently underway to strengthen cooperative efforts between the people of Tucson and Israel: Tucson Educators' Exchange and Arizona-Israel Trade Leadership Exchange.

Two Nations
One Belief in Freedom