Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ announces a community-wide event, The BIGGIVE, on Sunday, December 4, to celebrate our community and raise the funds needed to support the work we do both locally and around the world. A new and improved variation of what has been called Super Sunday, this event will take place at two area locations, the JCC MetroWest in West Orange and JCC Central in Scotch Plains. The West Orange program is chaired by Shari Brandt of Short Hills and Adina Brownstein of South Orange and the Scotch Plains program is chaired by Linda and Peter Weissbrod of Scotch Plains.
“We are so excited for The BIGGIVE,” said co-chair Shari Brandt. “Super Sunday has always been both a fun and an important day where we come together to raise the funds needed to make possible work like providing meals for seniors, connecting young people with their heritage, support our partner communities in Israel and much more. But this year’s event promises to be even bigger and better! I hope lots of people come out to see what an amazing Jewish community we have here.”
The festivities at both locations will begin at 9 a.m. and will run until 2 p.m. in West Orange and 3 p.m. in Scotch Plains. Activities will include making fundraising phone calls, fitness classes, a basketball tournament, programming for kids, mitzvah projects, a live call-in with partner communities in Israel, gift vendors and inspirational speaker Izzy Ezagui. Born in Brooklyn, raised in Miami, and now an Israeli citizen, Ezagui is a decorated squad commander in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and is the only soldier in the world who lost an arm in combat and then returned to the battlefield. While he continues to serve in an elite unit in the reserves, he speaks on issues such as motivation, success, overcoming obstacles and life in the Israeli army. We will also provide child care from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., so parents are free to participate and make calls, and a special calling session and program for teens in Scotch Plains.
The BIGGIVE is part of a new Federation initiative called GIVEMBER, which is 25 days of community-building and fundraising events that run from Giving Tuesday (November 29) through the first night of Hanukkah (December 24). The Giving Tuesday event, Cook With Your Heart, will enable volunteers at three locations throughout the area to prepare hot meals for those in need and/or deliver them to clients of local agencies. There will also be a month-long food drive with three convenient drop-off locations and numerous other opportunities to socialize, volunteer and help support Federation programming.
“I love that The BIGGIVE is part of a larger initiative based on a month of giving,” said co-chair Linda Weissbrod. “There are going to be so many ways for members of our community to not only give to the campaign but also to give of their time and effort. And they, in return, will get so much back through opportunities to learn new things, make friends and have a great time.”
To register or for more information about The BIGGIVE at both sites, including a complete schedule of events, visit www.jfedgmw.org/biggive or contact Norma Strickland at 973-929-3057 or [email protected]. For more information on GIVEMBER, including a list of Giving Tuesday and other events and drop-off information for the food drive, visit www.jfedgmw.org/givember or contact Lydia Dorsky at [email protected] or 973-929-2977.
The BIGGIVE is sponsored by GPS General Plumbing Supply.
