(Courtesy of Project Ezrah) On Motzei Shabbat December 10, Project Ezrah celebrated its 21st annual dinner at Ahavath Torah in Englewood. With nearly 500 community members, leaders and philanthropists across Bergen County in attendance, Project Ezrah honored the work of Dr. Shoshana and Rabbi Chaim Poupko, Tziporah and Avi Koslowsky, and the incredible baby gemach coordinators Ginnine and Avi Fried, and their volunteers Stacy Horowitz, Sipporah Tracer, Deborah Pearlman, Shana Schmidt and Tamar Chaitovsky.
The evening also premiered the music video to the original song “Stand Up for You,” written and performed by Danny Palgon and produced by Rafi Birades. “As a member of the Bergen County community, I feel very strongly about the work that Project Ezrah does. When the opportunity came up to collaborate on this song together I was excited for the chance to help them find a creative way to get their message across,” Palgon said.
The music video depicts some of the many ways that people in the community receive assistance from Project Ezrah and shows that in our community you never know who has needs that the organization fills. To view the video go to Ezrah.org.
The funds raised in celebration of the 11 honorees will support the critical work of the organization, which has seen a dramatic uptick in the need for services in the past six months.
“We help your neighbors the way you would if you knew they needed the help,” Said Rachel Krich, executive director of Project Ezrah, during her remarks at the dinner. She went on to let the audience know: “This year Project Ezrah’s financial assistance and case management program has had over 1,000 client encounters; an additional 300 services were provided through our job development program; and over $1.3 million has been brought back into the community from people we have helped find employment.”
Project Ezrah has many events coming up in the next year, including their Winter Family Fun day and a pay-what-you-wish morning for families at Urban Air Adventure Park. Keep an eye out also for applications for day camp scholarships and Pesach assistance grants right around the corner.
