Jul 5, 2013
Federation Staff Teams Up to Support Annual Campaign and the Jewish Community
When you make a gift to the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign, your dollars support a system that never takes a day off, even when the lazy days of summer beckon a vacation.
Not a moment goes by when there aren’t people in need in our community and that is why Federation and its dedicated professional staff exists, working around the clock to make sure the people in our community and in more than 70 other countries are supported with food, housing, clothing, education—whatever their needs may be—every day of the year and every hour of the day.
This summer, the staff at Federation has joined together in a creative way to raise even more dollars and deliver more aid to those who need it through a summer fundraising competition—one of the many activities the staff does throughout the year to help support the Annual Campaign. Through August 30, four teams are teaming up in the spirit of competitive camaraderie to raise funds to help care for the Jewish community in Miami, Israel and around the world.
The teams have come up with playful monikers based on classic films and are hosting festively themed events phoning sessions to raise money and support the Annual Campaign.
“As events slow down this time of year, and more people go out of town, the summer competition definitely motivates all of us to do more for our community,” Principal Gifts Director and member of the “Supermensch” team Daniel Staffenberg said.
"It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the Supermensches!"
Employment and Business Development Specialist Sydney Carpel is playing the title role on her team, known as “Snow White and the 14 Callers,” playing off the fact much of the summer competition is based around calling members of the community.
“As silly as our team looks in our dwarf hats, singing ‘Heigh-ho’ in the conference room, and placing ‘magic’ apples around the office, the fun atmosphere has inspired us to do more and to reach out to more people in new and different ways,” she said.
Silly hats and all, "Snow White and the 14 Callers" are dig-dig-dig-digging for new ways to make a difference.
“We definitely are getting more creative these days,” said Israel and Overseas Director Dahlia Bendavid, who is part of the “Wizard of OV” team, where “OV” stands for “Outstanding Value,” or a gift yet to be made to the Annual Campaign. “But I think our team is going to ‘blow away’ the competition!”
Members of the "Wizard of OV" team, pre-Technicolor.
The fourth team in the competition has dubbed themselves “Fundraiser on the Roof” and held a strategy session, where else, but on the roof, overlooking downtown Miami.
"Fundraiser on the Roof" sang a few show tunes while helping the Jewish community, overlooking beautiful downtown Miami.
Inspired by the staff’s extra efforts, one generous, anonymous donor matched any new gifts made to the Annual Campaign, up to $5,000. So far this summer, Federation staffers raised more than $245,880 for beneficiary agencies and programs. You can continue to help support this special summertime effort by making a gift online now or by answering your phone when any of our Federation summer “cast members” gives you a call!
