Mar 9, 2014
Community Makes Super Sunday
a Super Good Deeds Day
Greater Miami Jewish Federation President and CEO Jacob Solomon, Super Sunday Chair Alex Halberstein and Federation General Campaign Chair Robert Berrin enjoy a moment together on Super Sunday.
Nearly 1,000 volunteers converged on the Greater Miami Jewish Federation headquarters on Sunday, March 9 to raise vital funds and join in hands-on mitzvah projects as part of Super Sunday and Good Deeds Day. The result of their efforts: 1,353 pledges to the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign worth a total of $851,047; more than 30,000 macaroni and cheese meals assembled for distribution to hungry South Florida families; and thousands of warm smiles and grateful hearts.
“We so appreciate all of our neighbors and friends who gave their time and resources to help people in need,” said Alex Halberstein, who, along with more than 30 other members of the Halberstein family, chaired Super Sunday. “We know that the help they gave made a big difference in the lives of many today – and the memories of today will continue to impact them for some time to come.”
Cynthia Stein and Keith Ginsburg, Miami Beach and South Dade Vice Chairs, respectively, also helped to ensure Super Sunday included participants from all parts of Miami-Dade County.
Super Sunday, Federation’s largest annual community-wide fundraising phonathon, has traditionally been a day of giving, as volunteer callers reach out to members of Miami’s Jewish community to help support vital social-service, humanitarian and educational programs that help people in Miami, in Israel and in more than 70 other countries worldwide.
Some of the more than 30 members of the Halberstein family who committed their time to make Super Sunday a huge success.
This year’s event provided additional meaning for participants through hands-on volunteer activities coordinated by Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) as part of Good Deeds Day. Initiated by American-Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison, this global tradition has crossed the world to include hundreds of thousands in 50 countries.
In addition to packaging 30,000 nutritionally enriched macaroni and cheese meals, volunteers fanned out to locations across Miami-Dade County to deliver food packages, visit the elderly, spruce up local neighborhoods and much more. “There were smiles on the faces of everyone involved – volunteers and recipients alike,” said JVC Chair Shana Lewinger Russo. “People caring for one another… this is what community is all about.”
According to Robert Berrin, Federation’s General Campaign Chair, the outstanding response to Federation’s fundraising efforts also speaks volumes about the commitment of Miami’s Jewish community. “A gift to our Annual Campaign says, ‘I care about my community and the Jewish people, and I know it’s my responsibility to help.’ Today, we saw a significant rise in the number of volunteers, an increase in new gifts pledged to the Campaign, as well as an increase in gifts from people who had not given in recent years. On behalf of all those who will benefit from these gifts, I thank our donors.”
If you were unable to make a gift on Super Sunday and would like to do so now, please click here.
