Jewish National Fund-USA, or JNF-USA, is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel. The group supports environmental and nation-building activities in Israel’s north and south. The organization recently announced that record funds were raised at its annual L.A. Golf Classic, now called the David Frank Memorial Golf Classic. This year’s classic was presented by Advanced Nutrients, in which Mike Straumietis is Founder and CEO.
This year’s tournament sold out tickets for the event held last August 1 at the renowned Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, making it a huge success. This was also the seventh straight year the event was held, and this year it was named after David Frank, a prominent member of the Los Angeles Jewish community. Frank also served on the organization’s National and Greater Los Angeles Boards of Directors for over 30 years.
The David Frank Memorial Golf Classic also welcomed as guest speaker Lt. Col. (Res.) Tiran Attia, founder of the Jewish National Fund-USA’s Special in Uniform program. During the event, Attia shared how attendees’ philanthropic dollars enable and empower young Israelis with various cognitive disabilities to join and serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Often called the Israeli military’s “secret weapon,” the Jewish National Fund-USA’s Special in Uniform program has provided people with disabilities a place in the IDF.
With the unwavering support of Jewish National Fund-USA’s partners and donors, including Los Angeles entrepreneur and philanthropist Mike Straumietis, the Founder and CEO of Advanced Nutrients, the tournament’s title sponsor, the Special in Uniform program has incorporated more than 500 people with disabilities into the IDF. There are still more than 200 people on the waiting list.
On a recent trip to Israel, Mike Straumietis visited one of the Special in Uniform army bases and was moved by what he witnessed. He had always dreamed of promoting inclusivity and helping others achieve what may seem impossible.
Mike Straumietis also holds the Jewish National Fund-USA’s mission close to his heart. This is why he finds it extremely meaningful to have Advanced Nutrients as a sponsor for this annual golf tourney for the second year in a row, knowing first-hand the kind of people and projects his funding and effort will support and how very grateful he is that he can help young adults succeed in the future.
During the golf tournament, Gil Cohen, Advanced Nutrients Vice President of Business Development, joined Attia on the stage to share details on why Advanced Nutrients invested in the Special in Uniform program.
Proceeds from the David Frank Memorial Golf Classic will go to the Jewish National Fund-USA’s One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade program, which has raised more than $941 million to support critical environmental and nation-building activities in the regions of both Israel’s Negev and Galilee.
This year’s tournament winners included Keith West, Jeremy Canter, Ryan Lynch, and Harris Siskind. Runners-up included Michael Rosenmayer, Tyson Parsons, Ben Posen, and Jewish National Fund-USA Greater LA Board Member & Event Co-Chair Joe Rosen.
The 2023 David Frank Memorial Golf Classic will occur on July 31, 2023, at the Riviera.
About Advanced Nutrients and Mike Straumietis
Founded by Mike Straumietis, Advanced Nutrients is an international marketer and manufacturer of hydroponics fertilizers and plant nutrients. As a leading expert in plant nutrition and soil science, its team of Ph.D. scientists has engineered a best-in-class line of nutrients that improve plant nutrient uptake and organic beneficial bacteria with the ability to restore the natural balance of the soil.
The company also develops various rooting and flowering formulas that support crops without harming the environment.
Advanced Nutrients employs a large and diverse team of Ph.D. scientists. The team has developed a broad spectrum of next-generation products that nourish each phase of a crop’s cycle from seed to senescence, unlocking its true genetic potential.
Mike Straumietis, Founder and CEO of Advanced Nutrients, has, through his investments, provided life-giving essentials to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. In addition, under his leadership, Advanced Nutrients developed the first and only complete growing system that optimizes all phases of a crop’s vegetative and bloom cycles.