Tuesday, November 15, 2016

We’re excited to announce that Give Back to the Future! has begun with a bang. The first 46 donor families (12% of the congregation), plus 10 of Joey’s B’nai Mitzvah students from the past, have pledged $130,666, so we are 73% toward our initial goal of $180,000 to honor Rabbi Joey on his retirement. This current total includes $2636 in matching gifts from our anonymous donors for donations by those who were not here to give to the building campaigns. 

How exciting that Rabbi Joey’s B’nai Mitzvah children have helped lead the congregation with $2,000 in gifts to Give Back to the Future!

Now, we are widening the campaign’s outreach and hope to have contacted 130+ families by the beginning of December, and all of us by the end of March.

Thus far, there's been quite a range of donations, as one might expect.  Remember: all gifts are valued equally, as is the Havurah way. A good number of members have made pledges over 3-5 years so as to give more than they could in any one year.

In addition, 10 of those 44 donors/families have promised to include Havurah in their legacy/estate planning.  Since Havurah needs an endowment of $1.5-2 million for us to be able to support the programs and initiatives we want and need, these legacy promises will be key to our meeting that long-term goal.

Don’t forget that we also have a $25,000 matching donation grant from one Havurah family!  All donations from members who were not in Havurah to contribute to the three building fund drives will have their contributions to Give Back to the Future!  matched, dollar for dollar, up to that total amount.

Please visit the Give Back to the Future! website. Watch the eleven short videos featuring fellow Havurahniks explaining why they are supporting our endowment campaign. Read the rationale for having an endowment and explanations about how they function. And see how you can pledge and donate to Give Back to the Future!online right from the webpage.

L’Shalom—

Margie Rosenthal, David Fuks, and Herman Asarnow

Co-chairs of Give Back to the Future!