Alevy Foundation supplies drones, other equipment, training to Israel
For philanthropist Allen Alevy, the story is straightforward: “G-d is the creator of wealth. He gives it to those who will do what He wants with it. I’m only the custodian of G-d’s money. He tells me what he wants.”
While Alevy and his wife of 67 years, Deanna, have been active in securing the Jewish future and helping support local families for more than 40 years, he came from humble beginnings. He grew up in a housing project in Long Beach while his father worked at the local shipyards. He sold newspapers, worked with his grandfather on his scrap metal truck, did deliveries, and operated carnival games.
After buying some used carnival equipment, Alevy restored it to working order, started his own company, caught the attention of Circus Circus, and became a consultant for the Las Vegas family-oriented casino. Eventually, he bought the California Expo, site of the California State Fair. After selling that, he bought Westland Mobile Home Park in Long Beach, as well as small shopping centers, laundromats, and mobile home parks.
Alevy’s rags to riches story is based on his hard work, good fortune, always looking for ways to give back, and a loving partnership with his wife Deanna, a prolific artist and businesswoman. She hosts and pays for weddings for poor brides at the luxurious Alevy estate in Long Beach.
Alevy believes that if someone wants Jewish grandchildren, “It has to start at the brit.” Thus, the Alevy Family Foundation funds Camp Moshava Alevy and two Jewish day schools, Hebrew Academy in Huntington Beach and Irvine Hebrew Day School in Santa Ana. In addition to owning the land where the schools are, the foundation provides financial aid packages to students who want to go there.
Additionally, the Alevy Family Foundation got involved in the Hillel Foundation at Cal State Long Beach and helped to establish an AEPi (Jewish fraternity) chapter there. “All I did was put in the money, and then I put in people who earn it,” Alevy said.
The Alevy Family Foundation also subsidizes singles events for the Chai Center. On the 4th of July, 400 Jewish singles were enjoying a barbecue and pool party at the Alevy estate. Alevy’s organization also subsidizes the Pico Shul in Los Angeles and is helping to expand Shul by the Shore in Long Beach.
Alevy’s efforts also extend to Israel. After the war in Israel broke out in October 2023, Alevy learned that too many soldiers were going into combat with outdated, subpar equipment. People were being rushed to combat in street clothes. Helmets and vests were 30 years old.
There were 350,000 soldiers and limited equipment to give them.
The Alevy Family Foundation bought helmets with bullet-proof plates that have saved lives. Alevy added, “A solider wearing one of the helmets was shot in the helmet but survived. The bullet didn’t penetrate the plate. His wife was 8 months pregnant. When she delivered, he got a new helmet, and she got flowers.”
Then the Alevy Fmily Foundation initiated the 4Sight Drone Project. More than 120 units stationed from Gaza to Lebanon, and from Judea and Samaria have received this lifesaving equipment. “We intend to outfit every IDF unit serving on the frontlines with a 4Sight Drone and trained pilot, bulletproof vests, and helmets,” Alevy said.
Unfortunately, the drones were crashing as quickly as they were sent, according to Alevy, so the foundation started a drone school. “We gave every student who completed the class a drone. We had up to 50 students a week.”
Now the Israeli army is buying the drones itself, but the Alevy Foundation is still educating soldiers on how to use them. Soldiers now use a flight simulator. The training helps them to communicate better as a team. The soldiers receive an “Alevy Drone Pilot” patch when they complete the course.
“The main goal is to protect people and save lives,” Alevy said.
Alevy concluded, “Decide what you want when you’re 120 years old and how you want to be remembered in order to make good decisions now. When you live your values–how important it is to be Jewish and serve the Jewish community–the giving comes naturally.”
Ilene Schneider has been chronicling Jewish life in Orange County for five publications since 1978. She has served as a communications consultant for a number of Jewish organizations. She is a contributing writer to Jlife Magazine.