New York (January 30, 2023) — American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) has announced that Dave Dias, a founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Foundations of Freedom, has been named to the organization’s board of directors.

Dias is the first Christian board member of AFMDA, the U.S.-based fundraising organization for Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s Red Cross and national emergency medical services. MDA has nearly 33,000 EMTs and paramedics with 30,000 of them unpaid volunteers. The organization receives no government funding for its day-to-day operations and relies on donations for support.

“I am honored to join the board of American Friends of Magen David Adom,” Dias said. “MDA runs toward calamity in order to save lives, which reflects my own heart to step into the void to provide help and healing to those in need.

“Standing with Israel is also a natural outcome of my biblical hope in God’s purposes for this world. I’m very excited to support MDA and its mission.”

Dias started Foundations of Freedom in 2019 with the goal of transforming hearts and minds, restoring the promise of America. He also founded Insurance Thought Leadership, a think tank serving as a catalyst for the risk management and insurance industry. In 2010, he co-founded TrinityFirst Almond Company, which later became Trinitas Partners, one of the largest almond operations in the U.S.

Dias began his career as a Merced, California police officer, where he was a member of the Federal Narcotics & Violent Crimes Task Force and SWAT Team. From 1991-1995, he was a member of the Merced City Council and sat as mayor pro tempore. In 1995, he founded the Time Out Conference, a Silicon Valley-based group of C-suite leaders focused on philanthropic activities. Time Out became a dynamic, national network and international movement.

He has served on the boards of Azusa Pacific University, the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and Bayside Church in Granite Bay, California.

“We are thankful for Dave Dias and his commitment to Israel and community service,” said Catherine Reed, AFMDA chief executive officer. “When Dave sees a need, he fills the need. He is a person with tremendous initiative whose energy and insights will greatly benefit MDA.”

To learn more about Magen David Adom, visit savinglivesinIsrael.org.

About Magen David Adom

Magen David Adom is Israel’s national paramedic and Red Cross service. A leader in mass-casualty response and EMS technology, MDA treats and transports nearly 1 million people to hospitals every year; collects, safety-tests, and distributes nearly all the blood to Israel’s hospitals; and, through its affiliation with the Red Cross movement, responds to disasters around the world. www.savinglivesinIsrael.org

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For more information and to interview Dave Dias or Catherine Reed, contact Clem Boyd, director of public relations, at clem@infinityconcepts.com or 724.930.4003.