300 answer the call ‘yes’ and donate $100,000-plus

Milt (above) and Magda (middle) Orkin started their morning with a lot of no answers, but then Magda got two donations. (Right) Seth Forman started the day getting two pledges. It was his first year volunteering. The light airy look of the large room at the Jewish Community Center in Tampa the morning of Feb. 28 gave no clue to the hard work going on as the first shifts of volunteers starting making calls for Super Sunday, the Tampa Jewish Federation’s phone-a-thon for its community-wide 2010 “Campaign for Our Jewish Future”.

About a dozen volunteers were at their seats early that Sunday, asking community members for their monetary help in meeting Jewish needs here, in Israel and around the world.

The appeal was even more significant than usual as callers asked community members, most of whom have been affected by the down economy, to give as much as they could to help especially those fellow Jews who are jobless, homeless, hungry or otherwise desperate. Adding even more significance was the continuing needs to fund ongoing Jewish social service and educational programs.

“One of the nice things about this event is that people give up their Sunday to come here and help raise money,” said Jonathan Ellis, president of the Tampa Jewish Federation.

On Super Sunday, a total of 75 volunteers called more than 1500 donors by phone from the phone-a-thon headquarters at the Tampa Jewish Federation/Jewish Community Center community campus. The calls resulted in 300 donations, about 100 more than last year. Pledge cards were mailed to those unavailable by phone. By the end of the day, more than $100,000 had been pledged.

Steve Specter, a former Federation president, longtime board member, and annual Super Sunday volunteer said, to him, the campaign can be summed up in three words: tzedakah, mitzvah and philanthropy.

He said he believes that tzedakah entails righteous behavior, mitzvah our obligation as Jews, and philanthropy loving one’s fellow men enough to help out the less fortunate among us.

Specter said he believes in “quality” giving — people giving what they can afford to give at their own income levels. He compared his own situation to that of many other Jews here and elsewhere in the world. His own good luck, he said, has motivated him to help others.

“I am so fortunate and I realize that my good fortune is not shared by all,” he said.

Seth Forman of Carrollwood was volunteering for the first time. “I’ve gotten two pledges so far,” he said, “although one woman who gave in the past said the economy is too bad to give this year.”

Lisa & Ty Gannon and Greg Miller had a special job: researching “lost” donors. JEWISH PRESS photos by ELAINE MARKOWITZ That wasn’t an unusual comment. Volunteers, however, encouraged community members to try and donate whatever they could. It all adds up.

Callers just kept trying, combating obstacles such as no answers, voice mail, caller ID and, this year, the fact Super Sunday fell on Purim when Purim carnivals were underway.

Magda and Milt Orkin of Tampa came down together to help out and took the responses as they came in good spirits.

“I’ve gotten two donations this morning,” said Magda Orkin, “and one who said she’d consider it.” She was pleased with the results of her first efforts of the day.

Her husband said his best response so far had been a request for information to be sent through the mail. His hopes, though, remained high.

(L-R) JCC Preschool assistant teachers Lee Ann Lewkowiez and Rennee Spacone were volunteering for the first time. Two assistant teachers at the Jewish Community Center preschool, Lee Ann Lewkowiez and Rennee Spacone, decided to pitch in as well. Their early results were mixed, they said, but not discouraging.

“One person asked me what she gave last year,” said Spacone. “She gave the same as she gave last year.”

Lewkowiez said her best offer of the morning was to send a bill.

At a string of long tables off to the side sat three individuals with a different sort of job: locating “lost” donors who had either moved or changed phone numbers. Lisa and Ty Gannon have volunteered for several years. Along with their research on missing donors they were sending thank you notes to those who had given gifts. Greg Miller, also a returning volunteer, did the same.

Lisa Robbins, Tampa JCC & Federation director of the Outreach and Engagement Initiative, gives volunteers a few pointers. Behind Robbins is Steve Specter, former Federation president. “We also send cards saying ‘Sorry we missed you’ and include a donation form,” said Lisa Gannon.

In addition to going to local organizations, such as Tampa Jewish Family Services, the JCC and the Hillel School, money raised will be put to use for social service programs and humanitarian causes in Israel, and 58 other countries around the world — wherever there are Jews in need. For instance in the former Soviet Union, meager government pension plans are supplemented, helping older Jews to maintain some quality of life and pay for basics such as medicine. Campaign donations allocated through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Agency for Israel rescue Jews endangered in some countries and assist many in making aliyah.

For more information or to donate to the campaign, go online to www.jewishtampa.com, or contact Emilie Kuperman, Director of Development, at 769-2809 or emiliekuperman@ jewishtampa.com.