Linda Meisel, seated, executive director of the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County, poses with her team of Super Sunday volunteers — JFCS staffers, from left, Beth Englezos, tzedaka program coordinator; Julie Feibush, director of senior services; Davida Nugiel, gerontology intern; and Wendy Cacacie, clinical director.
January 08, 2008
This year’s Super Sunday, the all-day phonathon of the United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks, raised close to $200,000 for the annual campaign.
Despite the wintry weather on Dec. 2, some 200 volunteers, including more than 75 teens, turned out for Super Sunday 2008 at the Merrill Lynch Hopewell campus in Pennington.
They called potential donors, stuffed envelopes, wrote letters to American and Israel soldiers, and wrapped close to 300 gifts for the LIGHTS (Love Is Giving Hanukka Toys to Share) program of the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County.
Linda Cohen, federation’s associate executive director for the annual campaign, called the effort a wonderful example of community spirit and community support.
“For the Jewish community to come together on one day and raise approximately $200,000 is phenomenal,” said Cohen, who attended Super Sunday wearing a blue-and-white T-shirt adorned with Israeli flags and words of celebration for Israel’s 60th anniversary.
Sheila and Leon Levinsky of Hopewell Township lend a hand to the LIGHTS program of JFCS during Super Sunday 2008, wrapping games, toys, and books for needy children in the community.
“This is an incredible year,” she said, “because our board members made it important to attend, to meet volunteers from the community, and to raise dollars to ensure the success of the campaign.”
The money raised on Super Sunday was the first step in the drive to reach federation’s overall goal of $2.3 million, according to federation executive director Andrew Frank. The money supports an array of local Jewish educational and social service efforts, as well as projects in Israel and other countries.
“This year, we had more board members and trustees coming to help us out than ever before,” said Frank. “It’s a very nice statement about their commitment to the campaign and the work of federation.”
Darlene Paszamant of Skillman, president of Women’s Campaign, and her 14-year-old daughter, Jennifer, put their heads together for Super Sunday 2008. “I think it’s going to be a great campaign,” predicted Paszamant. “I think we’re definitely going to meet our goal.” Photos by Marilyn Silverstein
Federation president Daniel Brent also applauded the Super Sunday effort.
“I was very gratified to have so many volunteers there from the board and from the agencies we support,” he said. “They all reached out to explain to the community what federation does for Jews locally and around the world.
“It’s an important day — the first day of an ongoing effort to raise the profile of federation as a representative of the Jewish communities of Mercer County and Bucks County,” he added. “I think the spirit is excellent this year. We have a lot of enthusiasm among the leadership as we seek to meet and exceed our fund-raising goals and to develop innovative ways of involving more people and developing a sense of community.”