The Receivers
Are Ready

HARRY KIRS B AU M
Staff Writer

S

uper Sunday and kickoff
brings thoughts of football
in January. According to the
Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, however, it
means dialing for dollars in October.
As the Federation cranks up its
Super Sunday kick-off for the Allied
Jewish Campaign on Oct. 18, staff
members and lay leaders are not wor-
ried that the recent whiplash in the
stock market will interfere with rais-
Super Sunday co-chair Brent Triest.
ing the one dollar more than last
year to make it a success.
The event targets donors who
have given up to $500 in any of the
previous 16 Super Sundays. It serves
as a rallying point for the Campaign,
entering its 74th year.
Brent Triest, the event's co-chair,
said the recent turmoil in the stock
market may have some psychological
impact, but that most donors know
p.m., children younger than 10 will
the difference between paper profits
make wooden menorahs for seniors
and the real worth of their portfo-
living
in Fleischman Residence, as
lios. "There were years in the past
part
of
a children's experience headed
that people didn't do well, and we
by Janis Roszler. It's hoped that both
still raised good money," he said.
the maker and the recipient take a
The event's other co-chair, Terri
picture with the menorah and send it
Farber Roth, said, "These people are
to the other.
regular givers and they understand
Volunteers have said in the past
that they might not have a good year
they
don't like to be away from their
in the market, but the people they're
families,
and this is one way of solv-
giving the money to really need it."
ing
the
problem,
Linder said.
Laura Linder, the interim
Last
year's
Super
Sunday event
Campaign director, said the 250-300
raised
nearly
$1
million
of the $29
people who volunteer to call or do
million
raised
for
the
entire
1998
clerical work will find the process
Campaign.
streamlined from previous years.
Federation leaders allocate
Experienced Super Sunday work-
Campaign dollars each spring based
ers will greet the volunteers at the
on agency requests. Last year, about
door, take them to the phones and
47 percent of the money went to
train them at their seat.
Israel and other countries, while 36
Children will also be involved,
percent stayed in the Detroit area.
acting as runners to take pledge cards
National agencies got $600,000,
to be filed. During the second calling
$840,000
went to a "shrinkage
session, between 11:45 a.m. and 2:30
reserve" to cover any differences

about overseas issues like pluralism,
as well as local issues like allocations.
Triest said the group is not above
public relations. When people raise
specific issues or complaints during a
call, he said Campaign volunteers
want "to make sure the whole picture
of an issue is understood."
This year, local philanthropists
James and Nancy Grosfeld will
underwrite a "Challenge Fund" to
match every pledge increase over last
year. Throughout the Campaign,
first-time givers will see their entire
pledge doubled. The Grosfelds have
pledged up to $500,000, providing
Co-chair Terri Farber Roth.
an added incentive for regular donors
to give more, said Linder.
The overall goal is not only to
increase the amount of money, but
to increase the number of donors as
well.
This year's turbulent ride on Wall
Street won't change the way lay lead-
ers worry about the Campaign.
"We get worried in times like
between the amounts pledged and
this," said Penny Blumenstein,
the actual checks that come in, and
Federation president. "We always
$562,000 was put in a contingency
worry. Every Campaign has it's own
reserve. Administrative costs
set of problems, but everyone in the
accounted for 10 percent of the
community suffers if we don't reach
total, a level that officers say com-
our goal."
pares very favorably with other phil-
Robert Slatkin, president of the
United Jewish Foundation of
anthropies.
Locally, $10.3 million was allocat-
Metropolitan Detroit, Federation's
ed for such programs as Jewish edu-
banking/real estate arm, said he
cation, Israel experience subsidies,
thinks it's too early to tell how the
services to older adults, people with
market will affect the Campaign.
disabilities and outreach to families
"Common sense says we expect it
(raising money) to be a little tougher,
in crisis.
Overseas, $13.5 million went to
but I don't know. There's a point in
such programs as immigration and
time that we feel we have a handle
resettlement, and the revitalization of on how the Campaign is going, and
impoverished Jewish communities
Super Sunday is just the start."
around the world.
Complaints and questions from
contributors on Super Sunday will be
To volunteer or make a pledge,
answered by "The Super Sunday
call Leonard Milstone in the
Special Worker's Group," said
Federation Campaign depart-
Linder. About 20 specifically trained
ment, (248) 203-1457.
volunteers will answer questions

Federation _prepares the offense
for its annual "Super Sunday"
fund-raising e ort.

10/16
1998

20 Detroit Jewish News

