Terra’s David Martin and Northwind’s Ran Eliasaf pitch business-led philanthropy for NATAL in Miami

Real estate leaders, philanthropists and community figures gathered in South Beach for American Friends of NATAL’s first formal Miami event, where Ran Eliasaf and David Martin argued that business networks can help expand trauma care and resilience work. The evening raised support for NATAL’s healing programs in Israel and previewed the group’s next gala in New York.

Why it matters: - American Friends of NATAL is trying to broaden its support base beyond traditional philanthropy and tap business leaders as partners in trauma recovery. - The Miami event highlighted NATAL’s push to bring its trauma-treatment model to communities beyond Israel, including potential programming in the United States. - The fundraiser comes as concerns about antisemitism and long-term trauma remain a live issue for many Jewish communities.

What happened: - Ran Eliasaf, founder of Northwind Group and board chair of American Friends of NATAL, and David Martin, CEO of Terra Group, joined moderator Paul Hess for a fireside conversation at AFN’s “An Evening of Impact.” - The event took place at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and marked the organization’s first formal event in Miami. - More than 100 guests attended, including Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, his wife Shanyn, and Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. - Guests gathered on the hotel’s oceanfront terrace for cocktails, conversation and updates on NATAL’s work helping people heal after war and terror.

The details: - Eliasaf, Martin and Hess focused on leadership, risk, mentorship and how business leaders can support NATAL beyond financial gifts. - Martin founded Terra in 2001 and has helped shape more than eight million square feet of South Florida real estate. - Martin’s public roles include service on Miami-Dade’s Biscayne Bay Task Force and Sea Level Rise Committee and chairing the Neighborhoods Committee for The Underline. - NATAL Global, the organization’s international initiative, is built around a “train the trainers” model that prepares local professionals to treat trauma where crises happen. - All proceeds from the evening support NATAL’s trauma treatment and resilience programs in Israel. - American Friends of NATAL thanked sponsors David Hait, Doron Valero of Global Fund Investments Inc. and aedn, along with The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach for hosting. - AFN said its Annual Gala will take place Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM in New York City and will feature returned hostage Alon Ohel, who will speak and perform. - Ticket and sponsorship information is available at the AFN gala page. - AFN also pointed to a slate of recent events, including “Resilience Under Pressure” on Oct. 8 at the World Trade Center in New York, an evening at The Hampton Synagogue on July 9, and a July 5 gathering at the Eliasaf home in the Hamptons.

Between the lines: - The Miami crowd reflected a deliberate effort to unite developers, investors, longtime philanthropists, community leaders and younger professionals around one cause. - Eliasaf’s personal story framed NATAL as a multigenerational answer to trauma, not just a service provider. - Maayan Aviv, CEO of American Friends of NATAL, said Miami “showed up” for Israel’s healing and argued that untreated trauma can pass from one generation to the next. - The organization is positioning itself as both an Israeli trauma-care nonprofit and a source of expertise for U.S. communities facing crisis and insecurity.

What’s next: - AFN shifts to New York for its annual gala on Nov. 10, extending the momentum from Miami. - The gala is expected to keep the spotlight on NATAL’s trauma-treatment mission and its broader resilience agenda. - AFN says it will continue building partnerships with U.S. organizations to bring NATAL’s preparedness and recovery expertise to American communities.

The bottom line: - AFN is using high-profile real estate leaders and city-specific events to turn philanthropy into a wider resilience network for Israel and, potentially, the U.S.