Sunflowers, which accompanies thousands of orphaned families across Israel, responded immediately after October 7 to assist the war orphans. The organization established six trauma centers in several cities, including Sderot, Ofakim, and Ashkelon. For its exceptional humanitarian work, Sunflowers has received three national and international awards – including a Medal of Honor from the German government – while Hadar Kess, the organization’s founder and CEO, was named 2025 Woman of the Year by the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and was also included among Israel’s Top 40 Most Promising Leaders.
Alongside the annual Orphanhood Report and a special session in the Knesset, Sunflowers initiated a nationwide awareness campaign featuring Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai, Israel’s leading pop star Noa Kirel, Olympic champion Peter Paltchik, and many others. The project also featured dozens of children who lost a parent and prepared personal recipes in memory of their loved ones.
Adi, a participant from the Sunflowers Center in Modi’in, lost her father, Roman, during the battle near Kibbutz Nir Am. When the attack began, Roman, who was called up with his unit to defend Israel’s southern region, was sent to aid the rapid response squad at Nir Am after receiving an emergency report that terrorists were about to breach the kibbutz. Upon arrival, the unit realized that the terrorists were positioned in a high point outside the kibbutz. Roman and his team were moving on foot toward the site. During the ensuing fierce exchange of fire with the terrorists, Roman was fatally shot in the head.
Adi shared: “I chose to bake a maple cake in memory of my dad because it was his favorite. No one around me really understood what I was going through after he was killed. They said they did, but I knew they didn’t. At Sunflowers, the kids truly understand me. Everyone there is just so kind, and it’s such a meaningful experience for me to be part of it.” A video of Adi accompanies this story.
Noya, a girl from Sunflowers Center in Ofakim, lost her father, Peleg Masalem, in the battle protecting the moshav of Yakhini, located near Sderot. When reports came in that terrorists had reached the gates of the moshav and gunfire could be heard from afar, Peleg did not hesitate. He grabbed his weapon and went out to fight. For nearly two hours, he engaged the terrorists, neutralized several of them, and prevented others from entering private homes. He fell in battle, saving the moshav and the lives of many civilians.
Noya prepared the pasta that her father used to cook for her and said, “I miss my dad all the time. I think about him constantly. It feels so strange that he’s not here, and that everyone else has a dad and I don’t.”
The campaign also included the official launch of the Annual Orphanhood Report in the Israeli Knesset, attended by dozens of ministers and members of parliament. During the session, Sunflowers’ research department presented alarming data on the current situation of Israel’s orphans: 62% of widowed parents reported a deterioration in their children’s emotional state following the war, while 64% said the loss caused them significant financial distress.
Hadar Kess, founder and CEO of Sunflowers, stated: “The situation of Israel’s orphans continues to worsen. The 1,000 new orphans added to the circle of loss because of this devastating war are our children, who pay the price so that we, the people of Israel, may live in peace. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the State of Israel provides them with deep, comprehensive, and quality care. Our Orphanhood Report and awareness campaign are crucial steps toward raising public understanding and making decision-makers respond, alongside the ongoing weekly support we provide through dozens of centers nationwide.”