The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will hold its Super Extraordinary Sunday fundraiser and Mitzvah Day on Sunday, Jan. 31, 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
The event will include a phone-a-thon with volunteers seeking donations to the Federation’s 2016 Community Campaign to support humanitarian and educational programs in Southern Arizona, Israel and around the world. Volunteers may also provide clerical support or help with the Red Cross blood drive or Youth Mitzvah Day. Volunteers may choose from four shifts: 8:30-11 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-4:30 p.m. and 4-6:30 p.m.
“It takes all of us to build a community and Super Sunday is one opportunity for everyone to come together in building the community we want for our future. Whether you are making calls, helping with clerical, giving blood, or answering your phone and making a pledge, all of us can make a difference,” says Julie Feldman, who is co-chair this year with her husband, Keith Dveirin, and Nina and Andrew Isaac.
Food and prizes for volunteers will set a festive mood. With the Super Bowl coming up, volunteers are encouraged to wear their favorite sports team’s colors.
And in the spirit of friendly competition, there will be prizes for Jewish agencies and synagogues based on board participation. One agency from among the Federation’s five beneficiary agencies (Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Tucson Hebrew Academy, Tucson Jewish Community Center, and University of Arizona Hillel Foundation) plus the Jewish Community Foundation and Jewish History Museum will receive a $1,800 distribution based on board member participation at Super Sunday.
Synagogues can receive a $1,000 distribution for 100 percent board member participation, $750 for 75 percent participation, or $500 for 50 percent participation.
The Mitzvah Day blood drive will take place from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Tucson J’s Heritage Room (blood donors must be ages 17 and up; volunteers must be 16 or older). The theme for the youth activities, which will run from 12:30-2 p.m. (3 p.m. for older kids), is “Be a Mitzvah Superhero.” The Many Mitzvah Makers (grades 4-7) and PJ Library (ages 6 months-8 years) will begin with a pizza lunch and readings of the “Purim Superhero” book by Elisabeth Kushner. There is a $5 fee for PJ participants. The Many Mitzvah Makers will help PJ kids make superhero masks and will lead groups of PJ kids who will welcome guests, help with snacks for callers and present tzedakah box donations.
To sign up for a volunteer shift, call 577-9393 or email campaign@jfsa.org.
To make a 2016 Community Campaign gift before Super Extraordinary Sunday, go to jfsa.org or text the amount of the pledge to 41444.
