JUNE 1 • 2023 | 23

heavy traffic and hard-to-reach 
places. They are often first on 
the scene, and the EMT riding 
the cycle can begin treatment 
before an ambulance arrives, 
said Ronni Strongin of the 
AFMDA.
Simmons says he got the 
idea of donating ambulances 
from a physician friend, who 
had sent an ambulance to Israel 
the year before he and Edith 
made their first gift. 
On a trip to Israel five years 
ago, Simmons visited his first 
two ambulances: in Or Akiva 
near Caesarea and in Qazrin, 
near the Golan Heights. The 
four-wheel drive unit, now 
based in the Jerusalem area, 
had arrived in Israel but was 
stuck in customs. 
At one point, Simmons had 
hoped to work with a local 
Muslim physician friend on a 
campaign to donate a “peace 

ambulance” that would be used 
in both Israel and Jordan; it 
would be emblazoned with 
both the red Magen David 
and the red crescent and the 
emergency call numbers in 
Israel (101) and of Jordan 
(199). Sadly, the doctors 
abandoned the idea, feeling the 
odds were too great that zealots 
on either side would vandalize 
such a vehicle.
Simmons noted that 
American Friends of Magen 
David Adom sends donors a 
“MDA Stork Club” certificate 
whenever a baby is born in 
“their” ambulance. He now has 
10 such certificates.
 “Dr. Simmons has been 
a wonderful partner in our 
mission to save lives in 
Israel,” said Catherine Reed, 
chief executive officer of 
American Friends of Magen 
David Adom. “We are 

grateful for his generosity 
and passion, supporting our 
Israeli brothers and sisters 
when they need it most. No 
other gift makes a greater 

impact on Israelis’ lives.” 

To learn more about Magen David 

Adom, contact Wendy Strip at (248) 

522 0420 or wstrip@afmda.org, or 

visit afmda.org.

Dr. Simmons with 
one of the four 
ambulances he 
donated.

AFMDA

Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation.

 
 
 
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