I am equal parts thrilled and grateful to be able to share our exciting news: For the second year in a row, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City has raised our highest-ever Community Campaign – $5.46 million – in our 85-year history.
I am so appreciative of the many people who made this happen: Our dedicated volunteers, staff members, and most important, our valued donors who believe in our mission to sustain and enhance Jewish life at home and around the world. Together, we did it.
Through the power of the collective – the generosity shown by each of you is a wonderful testament to what we can accomplish as a team. Working together, we made it possible to fund more than 80 programs and services in our five areas of service. Programs that:
I feel so fortunate to be a part of a community that works so hard to make life better for our families, our neighbors, and for those who live thousands of miles away. I will continue giving my all to help create a brighter future for our community, while still keeping an eye to the critical support our partner organizations have relied on during the past 85 years. Of course, I can only achieve this alongside an exceptional team of donors, volunteers and staff in Kansas City.
I would like to extend a very special thank you to our Campaign leadership, who gave so much of their time to make the 2018 Community Campaign a success: Sandi Fried, Campaign Chair; Barbie Rogoff, Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair; Beth & Michael Liss, Major Gifts Co-Chairs; Ward Katz, Chair of Mid-Level Giving; Steve Greenberg, General Community Giving; Jeremy Antes, Mike Berenbom and Josef Loeffler, Ben Gurion Society Co-Chairs; and John Isenberg, Immediate Past Board Chair. I would also like to give special mention to Michael Abrams, Jewish Federation Board Chair, and Barb Kovacs, Women’s Philanthropy Board Chair, for their remarkable leadership.
On behalf of our board and staff, I thank our challenge grant donors, who energized our campaign efforts in 2018: Lead challenge grant donors Barnett & Shirley Helzberg, as well as Stanley J. Bushman, Robert Cutler, Michael & Karen Gortenburg, John & Jenny Isenberg, the Karbank Family Fund, the Lowenstein Family Supporting Foundation, Susan Seidler Nerman, the Norman & Elaine Polsky Family Charitable Foundation, Irv Robinson & Ellen Miller, David & Ellice Vittor, and an anonymous family gift.
Finally, it is my great pleasure to thank Jewish Federation Campaign Ambassadors and staff members, who worked tirelessly to help us attain our 2018 goal.
B’Shalom,
Helene
I am so appreciative of the many people who made this happen: Our dedicated volunteers, staff members, and most important, our valued donors who believe in our mission to sustain and enhance Jewish life at home and around the world. Together, we did it.
Through the power of the collective – the generosity shown by each of you is a wonderful testament to what we can accomplish as a team. Working together, we made it possible to fund more than 80 programs and services in our five areas of service. Programs that:
- give future to the youngest members of our community, including the Right Start Preschool Incentive Program and PJ Library
- give hope to the most vulnerable members of our community, including Career Skills & Connections and JFS Counseling and Mental Health
- give heritage to Jewish people of all ages by providing educational services, including HBHA, Birthright Israel and The J’s Adult Jewish educational offerings
- give promise to at-risk youth in Ramle, Israel, and those re-discovering their Jewish roots in Sofia, Bulgaria
- give dignity to our senior adults, including Village Shalom and The J’s Heritage Center
I feel so fortunate to be a part of a community that works so hard to make life better for our families, our neighbors, and for those who live thousands of miles away. I will continue giving my all to help create a brighter future for our community, while still keeping an eye to the critical support our partner organizations have relied on during the past 85 years. Of course, I can only achieve this alongside an exceptional team of donors, volunteers and staff in Kansas City.
I would like to extend a very special thank you to our Campaign leadership, who gave so much of their time to make the 2018 Community Campaign a success: Sandi Fried, Campaign Chair; Barbie Rogoff, Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair; Beth & Michael Liss, Major Gifts Co-Chairs; Ward Katz, Chair of Mid-Level Giving; Steve Greenberg, General Community Giving; Jeremy Antes, Mike Berenbom and Josef Loeffler, Ben Gurion Society Co-Chairs; and John Isenberg, Immediate Past Board Chair. I would also like to give special mention to Michael Abrams, Jewish Federation Board Chair, and Barb Kovacs, Women’s Philanthropy Board Chair, for their remarkable leadership.
On behalf of our board and staff, I thank our challenge grant donors, who energized our campaign efforts in 2018: Lead challenge grant donors Barnett & Shirley Helzberg, as well as Stanley J. Bushman, Robert Cutler, Michael & Karen Gortenburg, John & Jenny Isenberg, the Karbank Family Fund, the Lowenstein Family Supporting Foundation, Susan Seidler Nerman, the Norman & Elaine Polsky Family Charitable Foundation, Irv Robinson & Ellen Miller, David & Ellice Vittor, and an anonymous family gift.
Finally, it is my great pleasure to thank Jewish Federation Campaign Ambassadors and staff members, who worked tirelessly to help us attain our 2018 goal.
B’Shalom,
Helene