2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Our goal is to insure that the current membership and future generations are able to enjoy the highest quality of
programs, services and professional leadership. That’s the underlying reason for this Endowment Fund.
By the High Holy Days 2005, we were already at more than half of our goal, and only a fraction of our families
had become involved. How did this happen? We hired a consulting firm to run the campaign and teach our volunteers
how to make solicitation calls to our members. Volunteers met on many occasions for a phone-a-thon, trying to set up
appointments to meet with prospective contributors. At one point we had 17 volunteer solicitors who were assuming
222 assignments. In addition, mass mailings were sent to the entire congregation for solicitation.
Many of those able to make significant gifts had done so. No gift was considered too small, and all gifts would
be recognized on the Central Recognition Wall of Honor. We hope that every single one of our members will stand up
and be counted. We look forward to a most successful Endowment Campaign in which we surpass our goal.
GOLD
Over 900
HAR ZION TEMPLE
Penn Valley, PA
610-667-5000
Madregot is the special needs program of the Jane Fishman Grinberg Religious School of Har Zion Temple, located in
Penn Valley, Pennsylvania. Individuals with learning differences and disabilities including autism, neurologic
impairment, cerebral palsy and others are welcomed into a nurturing Jewish learning environment. The plan for
fundraising was three fold. We needed to raise awareness of our Madregot special needs program and raise funds to
supplement the program. We also wanted to involve the entire Har Zion Temple community in this fundraising effort.
Interested members formed a committee to decide on exactly how to accomplish our goals, and we quickly
decided that we needed something simple, yet effective. The committee consisted of clergy, senior staff, members of
the school committee, lay leaders and the Madregot subcommittee chair. We decided to sell cut-out figures in the shape
of children that could be decorated tne connected hand-in-hand throughout the synagogue. Each figure sold for $18 and
we encouraged congregants to purchase a minyan (10 figures) or a village (20 figures); but most importantly, to
participate.
Education was an important piece of this endeavor because we did not just want to raise funds, but also wanted our Har
Zion community and the community at large to get a closer look at this very special program. We wanted all of our
children to understand what it is like to be different and to learn differently. The Midrasha High School students
presented a lesson on special needs to the 13 classes in the Religious School. From our youngest children in the preschool
to our more mature members in Active Adults, everyone contributed to the success of the fundraiser. The
professional staff, clergy and laity were extremely supportive and we received participation from the community and the
congregation at an overwhelming level. Over 270 families participated in the fundraiser and we raised over $22,000.
Some 1200 figures adorned the walls of our synagogue and we were transformed into a supportive and loving
community of people helping each other, hand in hand.
GOLD
CONGREGATION AGUDAT ACHIM
250-501 Schenectady, NY
Submitted by Risé Routenberg and 518-393-9211
Ann Zonderman
Congregation Agudat Achim accomplished the most ambitious, ongoing fund-raising project in its 115-year history in
April 2006 with the publication of Divine Kosher Cuisine cookbook. This all-volunteer, two-year effort involved 204
participants from a congregation of 350 families. It produced a full-color, full-text, all-occasion cookbook now selling
worldwide from www.divinekosher.com, and numerous online and onsite booksellers, synagogue and Judaic gift shops.
Already in its second printing, the cookbook is funding educational synagogue programs. This long-term project has
met its projected first year goal, generating an initial cash installment.