[Archived from January 23, 2009]
[by Shiela Steinman Wallace]
Whether you are a Gen-Xer, a Baby Boomer, a Millenial or another generation, this year’s Super Sunday Committee is reaching out to you. Through 2009’s theme, “Talking about my generation: It’s OUR community,” they remind all of us that we must come together and live generously so our Jewish agencies can continue to do their vital work and meet the challenges of the future.
Super Sunday, the major telethon for the Federation Annual Campaign, is February 22, and the Super Sunday Committee is challenging you to represent your generation by volunteering to make calls for the Campaign.
Choose from one of three shifts: 9:30 a.m.-noon; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. or 6:30-9 p.m. Each shift starts with a training session, so every volunteer will have the information necessary. The atmosphere will be fun and energized, with lots of prizes and food. Bring some friends along, and do this mitzvah together.
Super Sunday Committee Co-Chair Howard Kaplin is looking forward to the day. “I’m an eternal 15-year-old,” he said. “My generation had a lot of fun and camaraderie through our BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization) years, so for Super Sunday, we’re taking it back to high school good times. We’ll make sure people are laughing, hollering and having a good time.”
“The Federation does a lot for people of all ages,” Kaplin continued. “We’re just making sure that that foundation continues to be there. That’s why we’re asking people to be part of this telethon.”
“Everybody is feeling the pinch of a tight economy in tough times,” added committee member Adam Neft. “Not everybody can give money, but surely everybody can contribute time or something else to the cause. It’s in the toughest times the human spirit shines brightest.”
“The Campaign helps the entire Jewish community, here and around the world,” explained committee member Nikki Russman.
The Super Sunday telethon is crucial, especially during these critical times.
- Funds raised by the Federation Annual Campaign ensure that Jewish Family & Career Services (JFCS, formerly Jewish Family & Vocational Service) can offer help to people to hone their job hunting skills and evaluate their career choices when they lose their employment and can’t afford the fees.
- Campaign funds ensure that Jewish families who find themselves in economic straits can receive the financial help they need to continue their memberships at the Jewish Community Center and enroll their children in JCC summer camp programs.
- Campaign funds also help support the hot kosher lunch program for seniors at the JCC, provide Jewish educational opportunities and ensure that there is a vigorous Community Relations Council to advocate for the Jewish community.
- Campaign funds help the children of Sderot, Israel, deal with the trauma caused by living with the daily threat of rocket attacks over the past eight years, and enable our international partners to offer a wide variety of programs to help elderly, disabled and at-risk Jews throughout Israel and around the world.
- Campaign funds also help strengthen our connection with our Partnership with Israel region, the Western Galilee.
The Super Sunday Committee members are a dedicated group of volunteers who have made a commitment to reach across the generations and make this year’s telethon a success.
For Super Sunday Co-Chair Howard Kaplin, volunteering with the Campaign is an important intergenerational connection. “I grew up in the community, and now I have younger children,” he said. “It’s very important for me to know that they will be able to have some of the same experiences that I had.”
Kaplin’s wife and co-chair, Lisa Kaplin, is also motivated to volunteer because of her children, “I believe they need to be educated as Jewish people with Jewish values and beliefs,” she added. “Our community needs to come together to provide all of that for our youth.”
Howard has an Associates Degree from the University of Louisville in applied science and works in the education field. He also serves on the Yachad Kadima, Together Forward, Programming Sub-Committee.
Lisa is the catering manager for Jason’s Deli. Last year, she also taught Sunday School.
The Kaplins are members of Adath Jeshurun. They have three children, Rebekah, Benjamin and Jack.
Adam Neft, who hosts an afternoon sports talk show on WKRD radio (790AM, 101.7 FM) and does other jobs in both radio and TV, enjoys spending time volunteering. In addition to Super Sunday, he is involved in work for the Humane Society and to combat juvenile diabetes. “The Federation serves a valuable purpose in our community,” he said. “They help make our community great and deserve our support.”
Nikki Russman recognizes that the Louisville Jewish community and the general community are facing challenging times. She feels that by volunteering for Super Sunday she can “be part of bringing us back together” and make a difference. “This is something we need to work on together,” she said, whether by contributing financially or giving of your time.”
In 2004, Russman co-chaired Super Sunday, and has been a dedicated Campaign volunteer since. She also devotes a lot of time to the National Council of Jewish Women, Louisville Section, and currently serves as vice president of the Nearly New Shop. She has been a volunteer with the Keneseth Israel Preschool, too.
Russman has two children, Lilli and Harrison.
Laurence Nibur co-chaired Super Sunday in 2008 and has returned this year to help out. “I think it’s important to be a part of your community every year,” he said. This year, with the changes in the Louisville Jewish community’s family of agencies and the financial difficulties presented by the national economy, he believes it is more important than ever.
Nibur grew up in Louisville, is a graduate of Eliahu Academy and participated in BBYO. He attended Indiana University and earned a BS in finance and marketing. He was active in Hillel there. A member of The Temple, Nibur is the advisor for TiLTY, the congregation’s youth group. He is also a member of the Federation’s Community Relations Council. He works for Humana in the Medicare Division.
He has a daughter, Isabela.
Jeff Feinberg is a Louisville native who earned a BS in business from Indiana University and became part of his family’s business, Evans Furniture. When Evans closed, Feinberg bought its floor covering assets and opened his own business, DesignPro Flooring.
During his time at Evans, he and the company worked with JFVS to provide warehouse space for furniture and household goods for New American families that arrived in Louisville from the former Soviet Union in the late 1980’s and early ’90s. He and his wife, Stacy, are graduates of the Federation’s Young Leadership Development program and attended a Young Leadership Convention in Washington, DC.
Kim Norton has been in Louisville for eight years. She has a Liberal Arts bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Indiana University and works as a sales professional for Dentsply, the world’s largest dental manufacturer. She serves on The Temple Trager Early Childhood Education Center board and is a frequent volunteer for a variety of programs including Smile Kentucky.
Norton and her husband, Scott, have two children, Alex and Ben.
Deborah Goldberg, a Louisville native, has been involved a volunteer with the Federation Annual Campaign for many years. A graduate of the Federation’s Young Leadership Development program, she is a past co-chair of the Young Adult Division and a past co-chair of Super Sunday. She has attended a national Young Leadership Conference and has served on the boards of Elaihu Academy, B’nai B’rith, Hadassah and the Adath Jeshurun Preschool. She is also active an active supporter of cancer research programs.
Members of Adath Jeshurun, Goldberg and her husband, Brian, have four children, Marnina, Ethan, Abigail and Noah.
“You need to look at where your values are and where the Federation invests your money to determine if they match. Mine do and probably always will, so I stand up and do my part. I hope you will pick up the phone and do yours,” Nibur said.
“If we don’t support the Federation Annual Campaign,” Feinberg added, “who will?”
On Sunday, February 22, be part of the generations that support the Louisville Jewish community and the 2009 Federation Annual Campaign. Please do your part to help. Volunteer to help by filling out and returning the form on page 3 or go to www.jewishlouisville.org and register online.
If you can’t volunteer on Super Sunday, please live generously and support the Campaign when a volunteer calls.