Adopt a Family Foundation, a local organization that provides emotional and financial support to victims of terror in Israel, held its Annual Gala on Sept. 15 at the Leichtag Commons in Encinitas.

According to a news release, Rancho Santa Fe’s Carine Chitayat, the CEO and co-founder of the Foundation, said the meaningful event was about “uniting the community with love, care, solidarity and strength following the unprovoked and brutal attack on the citizens of Israel on October 7, 2023.”

Guest speakers at the gala included Natalia Casarotti and committee member Sandy Novak, who described the tragic events that occurred at the Nova Festival in Israel where members of their family were murdered by Hamas. Casarotti, whose 21-year-old son Keshet Casarotti was killed at the concert, spoke about her journey to honor her son’s memory and seek answers about his death.

Both Casarotti and Novak expressed their gratitude at the outpouring of love and support that they have received from the Foundation community. In May this year, a small delegation from The Adopt a Family visited the families in Israel. Some of these families were also sponsored to visit San Diego for a brief respite, according to the news release.

The gala also included guest speaker Dr. Leetal Caidar Benzvi, a trauma treatment therapist with expertise in expressive arts therapy. Benzvi has worked closely with families adopted by the Foundation to address mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD. Adopt a Family Foundation has sponsored many therapy programs, including Benzi’s art therapy program for Nova survivors in Eilat.

The Foundation continues to provide financial aid to its adopted families and has embraced three new families into its program during the past few months, according to the news release. To learn more about their efforts, visit adoptafamilyfoundation.org