Federation Star - February 2018

JEWISH FEDERATION
Aah, February!
Jane
Schiff
Federation
Board Chair
I
remember living up north in various
communities: Columbus, Ohio;
Waterville, Maine; Needham, Massachusetts;
Princeton, New Jersey; and
Atlanta, Georgia (not so far north).
February was always the month one had
to get through for the glimmer of spring
that would hopefully show up in March.
I hated February. It was dark, cold and
icy, and even though one had to go out, I
didn’t like it! The only good thing about
February was that it was short.
Living in the sunny paradise of
Greater Naples, it is just the opposite.
February is the BEST month of the
year. We are in the middle of season.
All of our northern friends are visiting
or residing here for a few months. The
Jewish Book Festival is in high gear.
Some of the galas are over, and others
like our own Power of Community
Celebration, which kicks off the month,
are happening now. There are lectures,
games, movies, dinners, pickleball, the
beach, tennis, bike rides, etc. And the
weather is usually delightfully cool with
low humidity. I now love February! In
fact, it has become my favorite month,
but it is too short!
This year February finds us in the
center of our 100 Days of Impact of
our annual community campaign. Our
annual campaign brings in the desperately
needed funds which our agencies
and synagogues use to build our Jewish
community. The annual campaign was
headed up the last two years by Harvey
Brenner, who brought in structure and
unprecedented funds. We cannot thank
him enough for all he did then and for
currently heading up our Evy Lipp People
of the Book event. Now this task is
in the eminently capable hands of Karen
Deutsch. She and her Campaign Cabinet
are hard at work talking to, calling
and reaching out to YOU – our donors.
Without YOU we cannot build, cannot
maintain and cannot sustain our vibrant
Jewish community. THANK YOU!
I want to introduce you to our new
Allocations Chair, Bert Thompson. Bert
is not new to Federation, having served
on our board for many years. He also
served a few years on the Executive
Committee of the Board of Directors,
so Bert knows our agencies and our
synagogues. He is also active with the
Jewish Congregation of Marco Island.
Bert and his Allocations Committee
will be making recommendations for
allocations at the May 2018 Board of
Directors meeting. This change in the
allocations process follows the change
in the campaign and the fiscal year, so
that our schools and BBYO, in particular,
will know before the school year
starts what their allocations will be for
the coming school year. This change
will allow for easier and more accurate
planning of programs and scholarships.
This article, as many of you know,
is being written, and will be published,
before our signature Power of Community
Celebration takes place. I can tell
you that the planning and execution of
this event that hosts over 300 guests is
a monumental task. I want to thank the
tireless working chairs: Rosalee Bogo,
Phyllis Seaman and Stephanie Heuer. I
also thank the hard-working committee:
Karen Deutsch, Carol Goldman,
Robin Mintz, Joan Saperstein, Phyllis
Strome and Arlene Sobol. This event,
as always, will be the highlight of the
Jewish calendar in Greater Naples, and
our whole community joins in thanking
these reliable and industrious women for
making it special.
One more quick note: Please remember
that we are in the final weeks
of accepting applications from those of
you who wish to join us on the Israel
mission from April 28 to May 11. Please
see my article on page 7A for details. It
is going to be very special and worthy
of your effort to join us.
Enjoy every extraordinary day in
the all-too-short month of February.
Stay connected at www.jewishnaples.org
February 2018 Federation Star
Todah rabah
and thank you
By Harvey Brenner
We are at the end of a very
fruitful two years of a new
direction with solicitation for
the lifeblood of the Jewish Federation of
Greater Naples. Without the hard work
of 30 volunteer solicitors establishing
relationships with you, our members,
we would not have been able to surpass
the goal given to us in 2016.
Without the interference of several
hurricanes causing massive damage,
thus requiring people to give monies to
relief funds or needing monies to cover
personal losses from these horrible
events, we could have possibly achieved
the increased goal for 2017.
However, you did a remarkable
job in understanding the need to give
to Federation to support the many
Honest, caring and
knowledgable advice
about assisted
living options…
at no cost to you!
Personal and professional
advice for you or a loved one
when you need it the most
3A
beneficiary agencies in Collier County,
Israel and over 65 countries around
the world. These agencies request
money for programs to help our Jews in
need.
Our final total for 2017 is $1,136,748.
My commitment to chair this fundraising
campaign has been very gratifying
and comes to an end after two years.
Without the hard work of my volunteer
solicitors and them tolerating my nudging,
we would not have had the success
that we achieved.
May 2018 be a year of happiness,
good health, peace and success with
fulfilling the needs of the 2018 annual
campaign for the Federation.
Todah rabah and thank you.
Bruce B. Rosenblatt, Owner
Senior Housing Expert
239.595.0207
www.SeniorHousingSolutions.net
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