SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – American Friends of ELEM announced Wednesday that San Diego will host Walk B’Yachad – Walking Together for Israel’s Youth on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 8 a.m. in Balboa Park. The community-wide, family-friendly walk aims to raise $100,000 to fund critical mental health and outreach programs for at-risk youth in Israel, while honoring the memory of four beloved ELEM volunteers killed during the October 7th Nova Music Festival attack.

ELEM is Israel’s leading nonprofit supporting at-risk youth, including Jewish, Arab, Druze, Christian, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and asylum-seeking communities, through street outreach, 24/7 shelters, and trauma care. Founded in 1983 by American Jews, it now serves over 13,000 teens annually, submits an annual report to the President of Israel, and regularly advises the Israeli Knesset.

More than a walk, Walk B’Yachad is a public declaration of solidarity with Israel’s most vulnerable teens. Proceeds will go directly to ELEM’s life-changing programs. From 24/7 shelters and trauma care to support for young mothers and hot meals for homeless teens, ELEM empowers youth in crisis to heal, thrive, and become tomorrow’s leaders.

This year’s walk is dedicated to the memory of Lior Hadad-Atias, Sigal Levy, Yasmin Beera, and Yonatan Richter, four ELEM volunteers killed on October 7th. Their legacy of compassion continues to inspire ELEM’s mission.

“ELEM was founded on the belief that no young person should ever feel invisible or abandoned,” said Liora Attias-Hadar, CEO of American Friends of ELEM. “When you walk with us in San Diego, you’re not only honoring the memory of four extraordinary volunteers, but also showing thousands of teens in Israel that their lives matter and that they have a community standing with them.”

Community members can register for free by October 20, 2025, by clicking here. Families, schools, and local Jewish organizations are encouraged to participate, fundraise, and raise awareness about the urgent youth mental health challenges facing both Israeli and Jewish communities worldwide.

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Preceding provided by American Friends of ELEM.