Turning Pain into Purpose for Thousands of Chronically Ill and Traumatized Children
The Gilat Foundation is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the emotional well-being of chronically ill children. In Israel, our work is driven by the memory of Gilat z”l, a vibrant and compassionate 11-year-old whose life and spirit continue to inspire everything we do.
PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
OUR IMPACT
Since October 7, 2023
Children reached
pediatric institutions
Currently active
Hospitals
Expanding to hospitals by 2026
OUR MISSION
We serve children battling cancer, severe neurological conditions, congenital disease, and long rehabilitation processes—many of whom have been displaced by war or live far from home due to treatment.
Our goal is simple but powerful: to restore moments of joy, connection, and childhood through weekly therapeutic performances inside pediatric hospitals.
These are not just shows. They are trauma-informed interventions, developed with child psychologists and hospital staff, and led by actor-therapists trained to work with medically vulnerable children.
WHY IT MATTERS
For a child confined to a hospital bed, play is not a luxury—it’s essential.
Our therapeutic theater creates safe, engaging spaces where children can laugh, express emotion, and connect with others—whether in a playroom or at their bedside.
Parents tell us these performances are lifelines. When a child who hasn’t spoken in days begins to sing, or when a puppet earns the first smile in a week, something powerful shifts.
We help children reclaim something they’ve lost: the ability to simply be a child.
INSPIRED BY GILAT
The foundation was created in memory of Gilat Eisenmann z”l, a vibrant and imaginative 11-year-old who passed away in 2008.
Gilat lit up the corridors of Emma Children’s Hospital with her laughter and creativity. Today, her spirit lives on in every performance, every smile, and every child whose life is touched by this work.
HELP US KEEP SHOWING UP!
Your support brings joy, hope, and healing to children across Israel—week after week.
Together, we can turn pain into purpose and give thousands of children moments of light in the hardest times of their lives.
JOIN US
We are seeking philanthropic partners who share our belief that emotional healing is just as vital as physical recovery.
Join us in turning pain into purpose—for thousands of children, every single week.