A group of English-speaking volunteers that has worked to help support the Israel Defense Forces has celebrated its quarter-century anniversary of service to the cause.

The Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers (AWIS) gathered recently at the Goldmintz House in Netanya to celebrate reaching its quarter-century mark, and looked back at some of its accomplishments.

Among the major projects the group has carried out were the opening of more than 15 centers for soldiers around the country in the past year alone. These included a center for Border Patrol officers, a center for '669' Search & Rescue Unit soldiers, an instructional base in Tzrifin and a center for soldiers from the Military Police.

Two additional soldiers' centers were donated at the end of the anniversary gathering, along with a NIS 10,000 check to be granted to underprivileged IDF soldiers for Rosh HaShanah.

AWIS Chairman Avigdor Kahalani accepted the check on behalf of the soldiers from group leader Cecil Shevil.