A community ‘call out’ for needed funds

In an effort to smooth out the flow of contributions throughout the year, Jewish Federation of Monmouth County has decided to restructure its Super Sunday fund-raising day in 2013. Instead, it is focusing on a series of smaller, more frequent Community Call Days.

This is the first year using the new approach, said Cheryl Markbreiter, board secretary and cochair of the Call Out. Unlike Super Sunday or even last year’s Community Engagement Day, the Call Days will focus exclusively on calls for contributions, without other programming or educational elements.

Markbreiter said nearly 60 people representing more than a dozen agencies, synagogues, and federation partners participated in the inaugural 2013 calling effort on April 21. About $150,000 was collected initially, and donations were still coming in almost two weeks later in response to return calls, people logging onto jewishmonmouth.org, and other follow-up efforts.

This year’s fund-raising target is just under $2 million, said Albert Bloomfield, cochair of the Campaign Committee.

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“Although Super Sunday generated high excitement,” said Bloomfield,” it also placed federation staff and volunteers under high pressure as they strove to catch up in one day to goals that represented a year’s work.”

Under the new arrangement, the organization expects better cash flow, said Bloomfield, who manages the Bloomfield-Cooper Memorial Chapel in Ocean. “If donors set up auto-pay accounts or send checks when they pledge, instead of waiting until the end of the year, we can respond to those in need on a more timely basis,” he told NJJN in a phone conversation.

Markbreiter said the next Community Call Day is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 6. She invited those interested in volunteering to send an email to elenah@jewishmonmouth.org. Markbreiter urged members of the Jewish community to donate at jewishmonmouth.org/donatenow or to call 732-866-4300.