Legendary shoe designer, philanthropist and Maccabiah Games medalist Stuart Weitzman is making a transformative gift to develop new tennis and athletic facilities as part of the Israel Tennis & Education Centers in Jerusalem and Ramat Hasharon.
The Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation helps children in underserved areas throughout Israel reach their full potential through a unique mix of tennis, education, mentorship and support services.
“The ITEC family is grateful for the generous partnership and contribution from Stuart Weitzman,” says Erez Vider, Global CEO of ITEC. “We will be able to empower and serve thousands of children and their families who have endured hardships over the course of their lives. Stuart is helping to enhance the social, psychological and physical development of children and assuring the healthful future of our Israeli youth.”
“I am fortunate to be able to help ITEC continue to expand its athletic and education programs,” says Weitzman. “Our future leaders come from opportunities like this. And ITEC does it as well as any organization I know.”
The Stuart Weitzman Tennis Complex in Jerusalem is a new facility on the grounds of the Ben B. and Joyce E. Eisenberg Israel Tennis & Education Center. The 65,000-square-foot complex will house educational classrooms, four new indoor and two outdoor tennis courts and retail space.
The Stuart Weitzman Sports Complex in Ramat Hasharon at the Larry Greenspon Israel Tennis & Education Center, north of Tel Aviv, will feature new pickleball and paddle courts and a covered area accommodating hundreds of children. A world-class Stuart Weitzman Gymnasium will also be developed within the complex.
The Jerusalem and Ramat Hasharon projects will be completed in six and 24 months, respectively.
Weitzman, with his wife Jane and their family, has established a legacy of philanthropy related to Israeli causes. They have provided continual support for the Weitzman JDC Education Initiative in Bat Yam and have funded scholarships for the Maccabiah Games where he has competed four times and carried the USA flag at the 2022 Opening Ceremony.