This year’s annual Young Writers Competition celebrated powerful student voices alongside the legacy of ICEI’s visionary founder. In a tribute-filled ceremony, the competition was officially renamed in memory of Mary Ann Stein, who passed away last year. The event also showcased the competition’s impact on students’ confidence and creativity and the extraordinary stories that emerged from a difficult year.
Honoring a Fierce Advocate for Justice
Mary Ann Stein founded ICEI with a bold belief: that every child deserves a fair shot, no matter where they come from. She championed equity in education, not just with funding, but with strategic thinking, hands-on involvement, and caring.
“She had an amazing ability to sit with kids and really see who they were,” said longtime supporter Debra Pell. “This competition is about helping kids believe they each have a story—and the power to make people listen to it. That was her gift.”
Mary Ann’s son, Gideon Stein, shared: “She gave to 500 organizations a year, but this one, ICEI, was her heart. We’ve turned down many naming opportunities. This was the one we said yes to.”
The renaming reflects her deep commitment to education and to the power of children’s voices. “She believed every school could be extraordinary,” added ICEI Founder and Executive Director, Don Futterman. “Her confidence in us helped us take risks and make real change.”
A Platform for Growth, Healing, and Expression
Throughout the school year, students worked intensively with ICEI educators to craft their stories. They worked hard to learn the elements of strong narrative, character development, clear descriptions, and above all, how to find their own voice.
This year’s stories reflected deep emotion, resilience, and imagination. For many, the writing process became a tool for healing.
From Grief to Courage: Stories That Moved a Nation
Among this year’s winners was sixth-grader Talya Hanania from the Ben Tzvi School in Ramle, whose story “The Song My Father Asked For” recounts her father’s injury in Gaza and her journey back to the piano: “I didn’t want him to see me play and feel sad that he couldn’t. But he said, ‘If you play, I’ll be the happiest. Do it for me.’”
Fifth-grader Timofey Mayani, from the Ma’anit School in Ramle, immigrated from Ukraine three years ago, running from war and knowing no Hebrew. This year, he was able to write fluently about living through two wars. “I miss my home in Ukraine,” he wrote, “but I feel safe here. I hope when peace comes, I can go back.”
Their stories, and hundreds more, showed fear, grief, joy, and hope put into clear and powerful words. For many students, the act of writing wasn’t just about telling a story; it was about making sense of their experiences, finding the words for feelings they hadn’t yet spoken, and discovering that their voice matters.
