Anne Frank wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” {mprestriction ids="1,3"}On Feb. 8, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City is calling on you to start improving the world as we seek volunteers to give their time, talent and resources during our annual community campaign kickoff event — Super Sunday.
Again this year we will be offering diverse opportunities for our volunteers to positively impact the Jewish community. Super Sunday is our largest annual outreach and community-building event and you, our volunteers, are crucial to its success! Whether it’s participating in one of our hands-on volunteer projects, making calls to benefactors, promoting our mission through social media outlets or exercising to raise dollars, there is a place for you on Super Sunday.
This year, we are partnering with volunteers from Moishe House, a social and learning community providing meaningful Jewish experiences to young adults, for one of our three community service projects benefitting local partner agencies Jewish Family Service, Jewish Vocational Services and Village Shalom. Incredibly, Moishe House did not exist in Kansas City less than one year ago. With the support of your generous donations the Jewish Federation helped fund this amazing program that fosters and enriches the future of Jewish life in our city. We welcome them as participants in Super Sunday!
My co-chair, Tracy Shafton, and I are committed to renewing the meaning of Super Sunday by providing the community with ways to give that are meaningful to each individual. This year on Super Sunday you can give hope, by reaching out to benefactors to ensure we obtain the resources necessary to carry out our mission. Give dignity, by offering your time and energy at one of our community service projects. Give future, by promoting our efforts on social media. And, give promise by sharing your camaraderie and friendship with others.
Are you looking for a volunteer experience for the whole family? Are you interested in cultivating relationships with our benefactors? Do you have time to give on Sunday, Feb. 8? Don’t wait any longer — register and join us now by giving in any way that you choose.
The past year has been a difficult one for the Jewish community both locally and around the world. Though we felt the impact of hate-based violence here at home in 2014, we are lucky that we are part of a strong and vibrant Jewish community and a supportive wider community here in Kansas City. Unfortunately, many Jews around the world do not live in such supportive environments. These are people just like us — children, parents and grandparents — who must deal with the stress of living in a place where being Jewish means facing adversity every day.
While we enjoy the freedoms we have, it is our responsibility to extend support to our brothers and sisters around the world who live in peril. In recent weeks and months, Jewish Federations across North America have held vigils and memorial services following the tragic events in Paris and Jerusalem. We have provided financial support to help victims’ families and enhance security at the nearly 500 Jewish sites across France, from schools to supermarkets. It’s no small task to provide protection for the more than 32,000 students attending Jewish day schools in that country. But, gifts of all sizes to Jewish Federation help make an impact when we give as a community.
Your continued participation in Super Sunday and other means of Jewish Federation outreach are what allow us to sustain and enhance our commitments to the more than 75 programs and services that Jewish Federation funds each year. Your investment will maintain Jewish Federation’s ability to support programs in our five areas of service — safety net services, youth and family services, senior adult services, Jewish identity and education, and Israel and overseas — each of which is a key priority in supporting the Jewish Federation’s mission of sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world.
So, join together with a community of committed ambassadors at our Super Sunday headquarters on Feb. 8 to do good work for those in need. And please pick up the phone when Jewish Federation calls for your pledge. Each act of generosity — large or small — is what enables us to take care of Jewish people everywhere, every day.
For more information about Super Sunday, go to jewishkansascity.org/supersundaykc, or call Jewish Federation at 913.327.8100.
Jeremy Applebaum is the co-chair of Jewish Federation’s Super Sunday event. He is a residential real estate broker, builder and developer. Applebaum and his wife, Liron, live in Overland Park with their daughter, Elliana.{/mprestriction}