Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Federation celebrates record $32.7 million campaign for ’08
Click image to enlarge
   |
By MARGI HERWALD ZITELLI, City Editor
Bobby Goldberg honored at annual meeting
The Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland raised a record $32,728,524, exceeding its goal of $32.4 million. This despite running its annual fundraising effort in a condensed time period.
Federation closed the 2008 Campaign for Jewish Needs at its 104th annual meeting on Thurs., Dec. 13, at The Mandel JCC.
“This campaign result will allow us for the first time in some time to make meaningful increases” in allocations to local, national and overseas Jewish agencies and programs, said campaign chair David Strauss.
At the announcement of the total, the crowd of more than 250 cracked open “Party Poppers,” sending streamers (and the smell of smoke) into the air.
The $32.7 million represents an increase of $1,171,000 (3.7%) over 2007’s total. It was raised from 13,002 donors. (See chart at right.) That includes 1,766 “new gifts,” or pledges from those who have either never donated to campaign or not donated in many years.
Federation traditionally began its annual campaign in the fall, kicking off officially in February and closing in May. This was the second year in which it operated a condensed campaign, kicking off officially in October and ending in December. Last year’s condensed campaign was done out of necessity to meet emergency needs in Israel following war with Hezbollah. This year, Strauss pointed out, was “the first non-emergency, strategically planned fall condensed campaign.”
The campaign is organized in several “divisions” based on profession, age or affiliation, which groups together potential donors and volunteers of the same community. (See chart, page 17.) The Business Division stood out for being the first division in campaign history to raise $10 million. The Young Leadership Division (ages 20s-40ish) boasted the largest average pledge increase per donor at 17%.
The 2007 Charles Eisenman Award for Exceptional Civic Contributions, Federation’s highest honor, was presented to Robert “Bobby” Goldberg at the annual meeting. Goldberg, president of AmTrust Bank, served as chair of the Federation board from 1997-2000, co-founded The Agnon School, and was instrumental in the formation of the Ohio-Israel Chamber of Commerce and establishing Federation’s relationship with its Israeli partner city and region, Beit She’an.
Goldberg recently served as board chair of United Jewish Communities (UJC), the umbrella agency for all North American Jewish federations. He currently co-chairs Cleveland’s Centennial Initiative multi-year fundraising drive.
In presenting the Eisenman Award, current Federation board chair Harley Gross (who disclosed that he is Goldberg’s second cousin) compared Goldberg to Jewish sage Moshe Rabbeinu, of whom it is said: “His inside beliefs and his outside actions are the same.”
Goldberg’s instinct toward philanthropy and Jewish communal involvement stems from the examples of his family, he said.
“I got my Ph.D. from my father at the dinner table,” Goldberg quipped. His father Leo, who died in 1971, not only offered his son advice on life and business, he inspired Goldberg’s connection to Israel. Goldberg recalled how Leo hopped a plane to Israel as soon as the Six-Day War was over, returning with a home video of himself in front of the Kotel crying and urging his family to come to Israel.
“I saw the video, and the next day I was on a plane. Ever since, I’ve been a crazy Israeli advocate,” said Goldberg, who now owns a home in the Jewish state.
In addition to discussing his and his family’s past work within the Jewish community, Goldberg urged the annual meeting crowd to focus on the community’s future by engaging more young Jews in their 20s and 30s.
“You may not be able to get a check from them for a few years, but you must get them involved,” he pressed. “You have to pay attention to them and listen to these young people” in regard to their priorities and concerns for the Jewish community. He also encouraged older leaders to be open to changing the way Federation operates if the next generation of leaders have new, creative ideas for the organization.
As part of the Eisenman Award, Federation will give a donation to the charity of Goldberg’s choice. He chose to donate the money right back to Federation, which elicited both chuckles and applause from the annual meeting crowd.
Also at the annual meeting, new Federation board members were elected, and Tamar and Milton Maltz were named trustees for life.
To conclude the meeting, Federation announced the kick-off of its “Israel at 60” yearlong celebration marking the anniversary of the founding of the Jewish state. The year will see programs at several Jewish schools and synagogues, as well as a special photo exhibit at the Maltz Museum and two major missions to Israel in March and November. The Cleveland Play House will partner with Federation to bring the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv’s innovative Hebrew-language production of “Hamlet” to Cleveland.
mherwald@cjn.org
MORE MONEY, FEWER DONORS
Over the past few years, the Campaign for Jewish Needs has grown in the amount of dollars raised but steadily declined in the number of donors offering pledges:
2004:
$30.2 million from 15,089 donors
2005:
$31.1 million from 14,700 donors
2006:
$31.4 million from 14,662 donors
2007:
$31.56 million from 13,100 donors
2008:
$32.7 million from 13,002 donors
ADDITION BY ‘DIVISION’
Federation’s Campaign for Jewish Needs fundraising efforts are split into several “divisions” based on profession, age or another affiliation. That way, potential donors are being solicited by volunteers with whom they have something in common. Here’s how each division fared in the 2008 campaign with division listed first, total raised listed second and number of donors listed third:
Attorney, Accountants & Financial Services $5,345,982 1,192
Builders & Real Estate $8,117,478 509
Business $10,399,615 1,399
College $10,020 291
High School $10,192 349
New American $68,063 1,073
Physicians & Dentists $1,489,358 769
Religious & Academic $340,966 757
Social Services $1,109,960 1,079
Women $4,404,250 2,989
Young Leadership (ages 23-40ish) $485,710 1,001
Community Campaign (a.k.a. everyone else) $946,930 1,594
The Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland raised a record $32,728,524, exceeding its goal of $32.4 million. This despite running its annual fundraising effort in a condensed time period.
Federation closed the 2008 Campaign for Jewish Needs at its 104th annual meeting on Thurs., Dec. 13, at The Mandel JCC.
“This campaign result will allow us for the first time in some time to make meaningful increases” in allocations to local, national and overseas Jewish agencies and programs, said campaign chair David Strauss.
At the announcement of the total, the crowd of more than 250 cracked open “Party Poppers,” sending streamers (and the smell of smoke) into the air.
The $32.7 million represents an increase of $1,171,000 (3.7%) over 2007’s total. It was raised from 13,002 donors. (See chart at right.) That includes 1,766 “new gifts,” or pledges from those who have either never donated to campaign or not donated in many years.
Federation traditionally began its annual campaign in the fall, kicking off officially in February and closing in May. This was the second year in which it operated a condensed campaign, kicking off officially in October and ending in December. Last year’s condensed campaign was done out of necessity to meet emergency needs in Israel following war with Hezbollah. This year, Strauss pointed out, was “the first non-emergency, strategically planned fall condensed campaign.”
The campaign is organized in several “divisions” based on profession, age or affiliation, which groups together potential donors and volunteers of the same community. (See chart, page 17.) The Business Division stood out for being the first division in campaign history to raise $10 million. The Young Leadership Division (ages 20s-40ish) boasted the largest average pledge increase per donor at 17%.
The 2007 Charles Eisenman Award for Exceptional Civic Contributions, Federation’s highest honor, was presented to Robert “Bobby” Goldberg at the annual meeting. Goldberg, president of AmTrust Bank, served as chair of the Federation board from 1997-2000, co-founded The Agnon School, and was instrumental in the formation of the Ohio-Israel Chamber of Commerce and establishing Federation’s relationship with its Israeli partner city and region, Beit She’an.
Goldberg recently served as board chair of United Jewish Communities (UJC), the umbrella agency for all North American Jewish federations. He currently co-chairs Cleveland’s Centennial Initiative multi-year fundraising drive.
In presenting the Eisenman Award, current Federation board chair Harley Gross (who disclosed that he is Goldberg’s second cousin) compared Goldberg to Jewish sage Moshe Rabbeinu, of whom it is said: “His inside beliefs and his outside actions are the same.”
Goldberg’s instinct toward philanthropy and Jewish communal involvement stems from the examples of his family, he said.
“I got my Ph.D. from my father at the dinner table,” Goldberg quipped. His father Leo, who died in 1971, not only offered his son advice on life and business, he inspired Goldberg’s connection to Israel. Goldberg recalled how Leo hopped a plane to Israel as soon as the Six-Day War was over, returning with a home video of himself in front of the Kotel crying and urging his family to come to Israel.
“I saw the video, and the next day I was on a plane. Ever since, I’ve been a crazy Israeli advocate,” said Goldberg, who now owns a home in the Jewish state.
In addition to discussing his and his family’s past work within the Jewish community, Goldberg urged the annual meeting crowd to focus on the community’s future by engaging more young Jews in their 20s and 30s.
“You may not be able to get a check from them for a few years, but you must get them involved,” he pressed. “You have to pay attention to them and listen to these young people” in regard to their priorities and concerns for the Jewish community. He also encouraged older leaders to be open to changing the way Federation operates if the next generation of leaders have new, creative ideas for the organization.
As part of the Eisenman Award, Federation will give a donation to the charity of Goldberg’s choice. He chose to donate the money right back to Federation, which elicited both chuckles and applause from the annual meeting crowd.
Also at the annual meeting, new Federation board members were elected, and Tamar and Milton Maltz were named trustees for life.
To conclude the meeting, Federation announced the kick-off of its “Israel at 60” yearlong celebration marking the anniversary of the founding of the Jewish state. The year will see programs at several Jewish schools and synagogues, as well as a special photo exhibit at the Maltz Museum and two major missions to Israel in March and November. The Cleveland Play House will partner with Federation to bring the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv’s innovative Hebrew-language production of “Hamlet” to Cleveland.
mherwald@cjn.org
MORE MONEY, FEWER DONORS
Over the past few years, the Campaign for Jewish Needs has grown in the amount of dollars raised but steadily declined in the number of donors offering pledges:
2004:
$30.2 million from 15,089 donors
2005:
$31.1 million from 14,700 donors
2006:
$31.4 million from 14,662 donors
2007:
$31.56 million from 13,100 donors
2008:
$32.7 million from 13,002 donors
ADDITION BY ‘DIVISION’
Federation’s Campaign for Jewish Needs fundraising efforts are split into several “divisions” based on profession, age or another affiliation. That way, potential donors are being solicited by volunteers with whom they have something in common. Here’s how each division fared in the 2008 campaign with division listed first, total raised listed second and number of donors listed third:
Attorney, Accountants & Financial Services $5,345,982 1,192
Builders & Real Estate $8,117,478 509
Business $10,399,615 1,399
College $10,020 291
High School $10,192 349
New American $68,063 1,073
Physicians & Dentists $1,489,358 769
Religious & Academic $340,966 757
Social Services $1,109,960 1,079
Women $4,404,250 2,989
Young Leadership (ages 23-40ish) $485,710 1,001
Community Campaign (a.k.a. everyone else) $946,930 1,594
 |
 |
|
| Holocaust currency a silent witness to Jewish suffering | Local membership study part of Reform biennial |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of clevelandjewishnews.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments. Registration is free.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
