Super Sunday volunteers make a difference — Wahba
One thing Leon Wahba has noticed since he first started calling people for the Jewish Federation of Louisville’s Sunday: Things haven’t changed much.
The volunteers still show up around 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning. They get orientation; they work the phones.
“I have worked each of the Super Sundays for the last 10 years — my way of giving back to this very compassionate community,” Wahba said. “It’s a great opportunity to share a bagel and a schmear with your friends.
Something else hasn’t change: the mission of the Federation – to enhance Jewish life in Louisville — which the proceeds from Sunday Sunday support.
“You get to convey that message to friends, neighbors, relatives and good acquaintances, all in an effort to solicit their continued support for the Federation,” Wahba said.
The 2017 Super Sunday will be held Sunday morning, Jan. 29, at the J. Community members from all walks of life, including Young Adult Division members, will be placing calls to people throughout Kentuckiana, asking them to support the Federation.
Wahba said each volunteer makes a difference.
“If we can get 20 volunteers to make 10 calls each,” he said, “that’s 100 people we’ve reached.”
The theme of this year’s Super Sunday is Gemilut Chasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness).
“Our hope is not only to reach people asking for a gift, but to spend a few moments on the phone with them and explain all the Federation is doing here and overseas,” said Stacy Gordon-Funk, vice president of philanthropy for the Jewish Community of Louisville. “We’ve spent a lot of time doing outreach and communicating, so people have a better understanding of the work we do.”
The Federation supports summer camp, employment services, food support, camp scholarships, home health services for seniors and other services for Jews in Kentucky, Israel and 70 countries worldwide.
It also supports Jewish institutions, including the Partnership 2Gether, camps and schools, Hillel, The J, High School of Jewish Studies, Louisville Beit Sefer Yachad (LBSY) The Temple Religious School, Vaad Hakashruth, Hadassah, NCJW, the J Summer Camp, Jewish Family & Career Services and JCL programs.
Nationally and globally, it backs the American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Birthright Israel, Conservative Judaism Movement in Israel (Masorti), Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism, Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and World ORT.
Calls will be made between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Not only will volunteers pitch the Federation and its mission to the donors, they will also be interested in what donors think is important, “what motivates and excites.”
That’s why follow-up calls will be made, not only to donor who didn’t pick up the first tie, but for those who request “specific conversations” with JCL officials.