West Orange—The JCC MetroWest is hosting a new type of fundraiser this year—the “No-Show” Gala.

Rather than having its supporters incur the expense of a traditional dinner, the JCC is encouraging them to “stay home, dress comfortably and ‘attend’ our No-Show Gala.” The hope is that by not incurring a dinner couvert plus the expense of appropriate attire, babysitters etc., people will be inclined to put those funds toward a contribution to the JCC and its programs.

With annual dinners and galas all the rage, Larry Rein, Chair of the JCC MetroWest Board, wanted to hold a different type of event this year. While this is something new to the JCC, the no-show gala is not a new concept, as it has been done successfully in the past by other organizations.

Rein, Gala co-chairs Barbara Birnbaum, Toby Cooperman and Amelia Perlstein, and the other organizers spent countless hours putting together this “non-event event.” While it eliminates certain expenses, it also takes away from the camaraderie an actual gala promotes. Balancing these competing interests was foremost in their minds during the planning stages.

JCC MetroWest supporters can dedicate their gifts directly to particular programs, and in amounts they deem appropriate. According to Rein, targeting one’s giving is a new trend in fundraising, from which the JCC already benefits in its association with the annual UJA Campaign. It will be hosting one of the first three UJA benefit concerts in 2016, as a part of this campaign.

Using this new approach is not expected to pay dividends in amounts equal to prior years, but Rein hopes that removing the overhead of running a dinner will allow the final numbers to be at least half of what has come in previously.

For more information or to make a donation, call Pam Santos at 973-530-3991, or visit jccmetrowest.org/noshowgala. Checks can also be mailed directly to JCC MetroWest, 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052. Gifts will continue to be taken throughout the summer.

By Jill Kirsch