Episode 92: Infertility in Israel Births an American Non-Profit - Elana Frank

I Want to Put a Baby in You!

Elana (Bekerman) Frank, a native of Atlanta, GA, lived, studied, and worked in Maryland, Manhattan, Israel, and New Jersey. She has 20 years of experience working with non-profits (in America and in Israel) in fundraising, marketing, community outreach, volunteer recruitment, Board development and program development. Elana Frank "birthed" The Jewish Fertility Foundation. It took her ten years and countless rounds of IUI and IVF cycles and embryo donation to make three babies. Because she was a resident of Israel at that time of her first two children, their socialized medicine afforded her the opportunity to inexpensively reach a solution. When she returned to the US, she realized that others weren’t as lucky as her - in terms of treatment success, community support, and financial aid. She learned for others it takes years, miscarriages, unbearable debt, oceans of tears, and heartache before finally giving birth, if at all. And with the cost of IVF ranging on average from $14,000 - $25,000 in America, many don’t even have a chance for a chance. Knowing that there was this grave need for funding, support, and enhanced awareness of this sometimes “unspoken” issue in the Jewish community, she decided to create Jewish Fertility Foundation. Listen to Elana as she discusses with Ellen and Jenn: • Her background, the start of her infertility journey, and moving to Israel. • Undergoing IVF in Israel, for free! • Having two children and still wanting another. • Moving back to America. • Experiencing the drastically different American system of fertility treatment. • Not having success with IVF and looking into adoption. • A friend telling her about embryo donation. • Starting her fertility organization, jewishfertilityfoundation.org • How The Jewish Fertility Foundation supports those with fertility struggles. • How you can help and show your support.