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Hillel at College of Staten Island institutes Kavod Circle of HonorPublished: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 11:00 AMBy Mark D. SteinSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - WILLOWBROOK -Hillel at the College of Staten Island(CSI) has taken steps toward improvingits organization by launching a fund-raisinginitiative, Kavod Circle of Honor, tosupport its work.The Staten Island Foundation has providedHillel at CSI with immediate assistance,courtesy of a grant of $10,000. All of thefunds raised at a kick-off event last monthhave been applied to help match thatinitial grant. In addition, the RichmondCounty Savings Foundation contributed$5,000.On hand for the kickoff of the Hillel Kavod Circle of Honor are TomasMorales, president of CSI; author Gal Beckerman; Amy Posner,executive director of Hillel at CSI; Emma Dukhovny, eventchairwoman; David Mallach, managing director of the UJA Federationof New York's Commission on the Jewish People, and Steve Acker,president of the CSI Hillel Board. (Staten Island Advance File Photo)The fund-raising drive got underway at theresidence of CSI President Dr. Tomas Morales and his wife, Evy.Hillel is an international campus organization that provides opportunities for Jewish students at more than500 colleges and universities. The organization helps students explore and celebrate their religious identitythrough a global network of regional centers, campus foundations and student organizations.Amy Posner, the executive director of the Willowbrook campus' Hillel, explained that the organizationcontributes to the community on a weekly basis with clothing drives and food collections.Participants also tutor homeless children and raise money to sponsor seeing-eye dogs for blind residents ofIsrael.Ms. Posner noted that the organization sets the standards in opportunities for students to make a differencethrough service, leadership and spiritual growth.Page 125 of 179