Ladies and gentleman it is time to
raise a glass. One big l'chaim goes out to the new Emerging Generation Division
which raised $10,000 for the 2013 Annual Campaign. We are a team of very proud
lasses and lads and are extremely grateful to our fearless co-captains Maya
Avshalomov and Dan Shugar who we are thrilled to have back guiding us next year. We reached our goal, raising $10,000 in just
four months, and we couldn't be happier! The beauty of this is that a majority
of these funds came from first-time donors. We have 100 donors in the division and
whether they gave $18 or $180, every gift is meaningful and goes a very long
way. Needless to say, we couldn't have raised a cent without our team of 14
devoted canvassers. We owe much gratitude to the entire team!
Asking for money is not taboo;
every walk/run/telethon, fitness death competition and fundraising f*** party
asks for money. So why then are people so reticent to become a canvasser? If we
substituted the word “canvasser” for “gift giver” it might take on a whole different
meaning. Canvassing can really be a
mutually beneficial experience. Canvassers often find the experience rewarding
and damn legit.
Consider the Jewish Federation of
Ottawa and Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation as a bank. The Federation functions as the chequing
account and the Foundation is your savings account. Your gift to the Federation
supports our community agencies and your gift to the Foundation ensures the
sustainability of the community for generations to come.
Keep in mind that we don't just
provide funds for the elderly and disabled. We also ensure that summer camp and
Hebrew schools continue to exist. I’ll bet your best summers were spent at
camp-now imagine not being able to ship your kids off when they turn 11 year
old.
I’ve got a secret for you. Listen really closely. Giving a gift can not
only greatly help out the community, it can also benefit you. Life is made up
of connections and contacts. If you don't think this is true, well… reality
check, it is. Joining the community in this capacity exposes you to new contacts,
fresh faces and outside the box opportunities. What you’ll discover is that
doing good reaps good and makes you feel like a mensch!
Through fundraising you create
relationships and the beauty is that some will last a lifetime, and others will
come back to help you in a completely different capacity of your life. Calling
or emailing someone a few times a year asking for a pledge or inviting them to
a party or Shabbat dinner can impact someone's life in ways that are outside their
normal bubble.
At our stage of life, 20-40 years of
age, we have endless opportunities to travel and network through conferences
and conventions all over the world with like-minded people who do what we do
because they believe in the mutually beneficial experience.
If what I have said resonates with you in any way and you want
to become a canvasser for the Emerging Generation Division for 2014, we would
love to have you. That's it, that's all. Easy as that! Call me, we can chat all
about it 613-724-8930.
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