Federation president Elise Feldman
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September 21, 2009
The newly appointed president and CEO of United Jewish Communities/Jewish Federations of North America will give one of his first speaking engagements since assuming the position when he delivers remarks Thursday, Oct. 1, at a major gifts event of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County’s UJA campaign.
Jerry Silverman, who helped raise tens of millions of dollars for Jewish summer camps and, as a business executive, helped popularize the Dockers brand, was hired earlier this year to work similar magic for the Jewish federation movement.
Participants at this year’s Arista Society event will also hear from those who have already fallen under the spell of Jewish community giving and directly benefited from programs of the federation or its beneficiary agencies.
The 7 p.m. gathering will be held at the Marlboro home of Regina and Dan Werbler, and will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts. Couvert for the evening is $75, with a minimum contribution of $6,000 to the 2010 UJA campaign required. Dietary laws will be observed.
“Monmouth County is a very caring community faced with very difficult economic times,” said federation president Elise Feldman of Farmingdale. The Arista event recognizes that “we’ve been able to accomplish and provide for the needs of the community.”
Recognizing today’s tough economic climate, the event will be more scaled-down than in previous years. “In the past, it has been a much more formal event” held at a country club, said Sheri Tarrab of Holmdel, the federation’s campaign chair. “I would much prefer for people to give their philanthropic dollars to where it does the most good.”
“The event will serve as a way of thanking our major donors for their support of our Jewish community,” said federation executive director Howard Gases.
The economic climate is also reflected in the flexibility in which the federation is accepting 2010 donations. The federation is still closing out its 2009 campaign, and contributors have until Dec. 31 to pay their donation. For 2010, “you have 15 months to pay that pledge,” Tarrab said. “Those of us who can are being asked to give even a little bit more.”
Furthermore, those who increase their donation in 2010 “can take that increase and designate it to one of four different areas” of the campaign, Tarrab said. Those four categories are “people in need” in the community; Jewish education, identity, and continuity; Jewish community programming and outreach; and Israel/overseas needs.
For more information on the Arista Society gathering, call the federation at 732-866-4300.
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