Participants Raise $2.5 million to launch 2011 Annual Campaign

July 15, 2010
 
At an absorption center in Ramle, a low-income suburb of Tel Aviv, participants on The Jewish Federations of North America’s Campaign Chairs and Directors Mission entered a preschool classroom, where 20 Ethiopian-Israeli four year olds and two teachers sat in a circle.

Some of the children have made aliyah within the last two months. All are spending their summer preparing for kindergarten by learning basic skills such as how to share; how to treat your friends; and how to act in a classroom.

Mission participants joined the children, holding their hands. Led by their dynamic teacher, Etty, the children sang joyfully of learning to cross the street when the light is green, and about what it means to be a good friend.

All over Israel on Monday and Tuesday, from Beer Sheva to Afula, mission participants visited such classrooms, absorption centers, kibbutzim and homes, meeting the Israelis who benefit from scores of Federation-funded programs of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the Ethiopian National Project (ENP), World ORT and others.

The mission, which officially launches the 2011 Jewish Federation Annual Campaign, raised $2.5 million – an impressive 25 percent increase on a gift-for-gift basis from the previous year. Throughout the mission, participants saw first-hand the life-enhancing results of our Jewish Federation-funded partner agencies.

"The Federation leaders on this mission inspired me," said National Campaign Chair Michael Lebovitz of the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga. "They immersed themselves in this mission, embracing every aspect of the program. I know they’re going to head back home to share their passion and lead their communities."

Among those the mission met was Tzvi, 92, who helped bring water to the Negev in Israel’s early days and now receives assistance from a social worker who he can summon at the touch of a button if he falls, needs a chore done, or simply wants a friendly ear. Dalia, 45, was stricken with polio as a young woman and has created a center that helps 3,000 disabled Israelis, including 600 Bedouins, become independent.

Galit, 16, a self-assured teen from a Khavkazi family, spends her free time at a youth center, where counselors from the community act as role models and help her navigate the cultural gaps between family traditions and modern Israel.

Along with visiting dozens of Jewish Federation partner agency programs, the nearly 130-member mission also heard many compelling speakers, including JAFI Chair Natan Sharansky, Israeli government press spokesman Mark Regev and journalist Saul Singer. The group also received JDC and JAFI briefings on global Jewish needs and engaged in fundraising training.

On Monday, participants visited the homes of Ethiopian-Israeli families whose children receive services from the ENP’s Scholastic Assistance and Youth Outreach. Mullu, who hosted a small group at her Ramle apartment with her daughters Ilana, 14 and Chana, 16, said of her children: "I can’t give them very much. But I want them to have a better life than mine."

Mullu, a single mother of four, is unemployed and receives welfare. But Ilana, who wants to be a veterinarian and Chana, who is an aspiring artist, both receive ENP’s academic enrichment and have high hopes for the future.

The mission also spent time at an Israel Defense Forces paratrooper base, celebrating Jewish Federation-funded programs that help young, lone immigrant soldiers explore their Jewish identity and integrate into Israeli society. U.S.-born Ella Spivack first came to Israel on a Birthright Israel trip and returned repeatedly, finally making aliyah. She and other soldiers described how Federation-funded programs helped them build a new life in the Jewish State.

On Tuesday the mission visited the home of President Shimon Peres, who discussed prospects for peace, the relationship between Israel and the North American Jewish community, recent attempts to delegitimize Israel, and the ongoing conversion bill debate (see the JFNA briefing with his remarks here).

The mission concluded Wednesday with a fundraising caucus. Along with the $2.5 million pledged to the Annual Campaign, participants pledged another $130,000 in supplemental gifts. Three women also became Lions of Judah (minimum annual gift $5,000); five Lions joined the Ruby level ($10,000); three joined the Sapphire level ($18,000); two the Emerald level ($25,000); one the Amethyst level ($36,000); one Zahav (gold, $50,000); and one became a new Prime Minister’s Council Lion ($100,000).

"It's amazing how people responded to the needs in personal stories that we were so privileged to see first-hand," added National Women’s Philanthropy Chair Linda A. Hurwitz, of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.

"These results indicate that the 2011 Annual Campaign will be strong," said Paul Kane, who oversees JFNA’s Financial Resource Development. "Our leadership has stepped forward to show the way."