The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will hold its annual fundraising phone-a-thon, Super Extraordinary Sunday, on Jan. 26 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Several mitzvah projects, including a Red Cross blood drive and a Gift of Life bone marrow registry, will help make the day special.
“Arizona is ranked No. 1 and we plan to have the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona ranked No. 1 in this campaign,” says event co-chair Ben Silverman, referring to the University of Arizona Wildcat basketball team’s achievement last month. His Super Extraordinary Sunday co-chairs are his wife, Kris, and Sherry and Dick Belkin.
Funds raised on Super Sunday support a variety of humanitarian, educational and cultural programs in Tucson, Israel and around the world.
“We hope to set a record for new donors and increased gifts,” says Kris.
“We’re counting on the generosity of our donors and expertise of our volunteers,” adds Dick Belkin.
The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 6:30 p.m., in time for the Wildcat game against Arizona State University at 7 p.m.
Volunteer opportunities include manning phones, helping with clerical duties and assisting with mitzvah day activities. Shifts are 8:30 to 11 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Belkin urges volunteers to join in for the “the food, the fun, the excitement, the community spirit, all in one place at one time.”
To sign up, contact Rosi or Jennifer at campaign@jfsa.org or 577-9392 or visit www.jewishtucson.org.
The blood drive will be held 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Donors must be ages 17 and up; volunteers can be ages 16 and up. The Gift of Life Bone Marrow registry, which requires only a cheek swab, will also be 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
There are several opportunities for children of all ages to get in on the action.
PJ Library will hold a story hour with a reading of “It’s a … It’s a … It’s a Mitzvah,” do crafts relating to mitzvot, and serve pizza for the youngest set from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Also from 12:30 to 2 p.m., school-age children can learn about philanthropy and take part in hands-on projects relating to four mitzvot: feeding the hungry, respect for the elderly, caring for animals and caring for the sick. Projects will include putting together dry bean soup ingredients for a local organization and creating no-sew fleece blankets for a pet rescue group.
Teens from the B’nai Tzedek philanthropy program will be on hand to help out with various mitzvah projects as well as do two of their own, making lunches for the homeless and fleece scarves for Refugee Focus. They will also provide information for prospective members.
For more information on youth activities, call Jane Scott at 577-9393 or jscott@jfsa.org.
