ock

With almost $10 million in the bank, the Jewish Community Center
pauses to assess its fund-raising efforts.

Plotnick said it is expected of them,
adding:
"They are the leadership in
Staff Writer
the community."
Those donors who are more likely to
en months after it got a
give in the ballpark of $100 have not
53.6 million jump start for
been solicited yet, nor will they be until
its capital and endowment
the campaign nears its conclusion.
campaign, the Jewish
"We try and keep it 'non-public'
Community Center of Metropolitan
for
as long as possible, because going
Detroit has raised an additional $6
public
is a signal to the larger donors
million that includes two new $1 mil-
that
we
are almost done," Sorkin said.
lion gifts but still leaves the effort a
"Although
it may be a lot of individu-
"daunting" distance from its goal.
als
that
contribute
$100 or $500, it
S18
The goal is $25 million
takes longer for that to accumulate."
million for physical renovations to the
Sorkin estimated that 20 percent of
Kahn and Jimmy Prenris Morris JCC
the
donors will raise almost 80 percent
buildings and $7 million for program
of the total.
endowments. Fund-raisers for
The JCC, when
the JCC are about to suspend
developing
the cam-
operations until April 1, to
paign,
set
a
series of
avoid conflicting with the
goals in particular dollar
annual Jewish Federation of
ranges, from 300 gifts of
4 donors, of 10 being
Metropolitan Detroit-spon-
COMMITTED
$5,000-$24,999 to 30
sought, have committed
sored Allied Jewish
gifts
of between
$6,600,000
Campaign, which raised $29
BEING SOUGHT
$100,000
and
million last year.
Gifts of
$499,999.
Center leaders say their
$1 Million
The center's next big
or more
fund-raising effort is on solid
push for money will not
ground.
be in the area, but at the
"The first leg has been suc-
Kahns' home in Boca
1 donor, of 6 being
cessful, which will hopefully
25 donors, of 300 being
Raton, Florida, to reach
sought, has committed
open up new opportunities,"
sought, have committed
Gifts of
Gifts of
Detroiters
residing there
$500,000
said Executive Director David
$5,000
$233,746
$500.000
for the winter. More
to
$24,999
to
$999,999
Sorkin. But, he noted, "it is
than 200 prospective
still a daunting task to get
donors that Greenberg
there from here."
Gifts of
targets as "potentially
Thus far, four $1 million-
$25,000
substantial givers" will
14
donors,
of
75
being
to $49,99')
plus gifts have come in: the
be invited to the Feb. 16
sought,
have
committed
initial gift from D. Dan and
Gifts of
Gifts of
reception.
$426,222
$100,000
Betty Kahn to name the West
7 donors, of 30 being
$50,000
to $499,000
Although it techni-
to $99,999
Bloomfield JCC, $1 million
sought, have committed
cally will come during
from Marion and David
$1,325,000
the blackout period for
6 donors, of 30 being
Handleman to rename
fund-raising, when
sought,
have
committed
Shiffman Hall there, 51 mil-
Jewish Federation of
$336,000
lion from a yet-to-be
Metropolitan Detroit
announced donor towards the
constituent agencies sus-
construction of a second
pend raising money so as not to con-
money, people would be receptive."
To begin construction, 80 percent
main gymnasium, and $1 million
flict with the Allied Jewish Campaign,
Eventually
the
fund
raising
will
of the renovation total — $14.4 mil-
undesignated by a donor, whose iden-
the Florida reception is being planned
turn
to
the
7,000-plus
general
mem-
lion — must be raised, according to
tity has not been publicly revealed.
with Federation's blessing.
bers
of
the
center,
but
Greenberg
said
Mort
Plotnick,
the
JCC's
development
Overall, the campaign set a target of
"We coordinate everything with
that the 2,371 Health Club members
director.
10 gifts of $1 million or more.
Federation,"
including who JCC
are being solicited now. He also said
Most of what's been raised has
Sorkin said the Kahn gift is one of
fund-raisers
will
solicit, Greenberg
that most of the 54 board of directors
come for bricks-and-mortar building
said.
"We
haven't
solicited people who
members
have
contributed.
Although
renovations, with little earmarked
Lonny Goldsmith can be reached at
haven't
made
their
1999 commitment
there
is
nothing
in
writing
to
dictate
toward the 57 million goal of endow-
(248) 354-6060, ext. 263, or by e-mail
to
the
AJC
first."
TI
that
board
members
must
contribute,
ments to operate both new and ongo-
at lgoldsmith@thejewishnews.com

LONNY GOLDSMITH

the largest received by a Jewish com-
munal organization. He said $1 mil-
lion gifts are also rather unusual.
"It was almost a false start because
it gave people the impression that
fund-raising was easy," Sorkin said.
The most recent accounting shows
77 donors have given 59,444,448 to
the drive as of Nov. 30. Hugh
Greenberg, chairman of the capital
campaign committee, said an unofficial
amount of over $10 million has been
committed with another $7 million in
prospective donations that haven't been
closed. Greenberg said he is hopeful
those can be sealed by spring.

ing programs. But that doesn't mean
people are unreceptive to the need for
program endowments, said Greenberg.
'A number of people have given
money, yet haven't specified what
they'd like it to go towards," he said.
"People are supporting the entire con-
cept."
More money going toward one
piece over another has not meant a
change in fund-raising philosophy.
"People are as receptive as we fig-
ured they'd be," Greenberg said. "This
is the city's flagship agency, that sup-
ports the whole communiry. We
expected that when we asked for

Donations To JCC Campaign

12/1
1998

Detroit Jewish News

7

