C
OVID-19 and the need
for social distancing
abruptly cancelled a
slew of spring and summer
fundraisers for local nonprofits
— from golf outings to com-
munity walks — wiping out the
anticipated revenue from those
events and leaving organizations
scrambling.
Many virtual events are pop-
ping up along with emergency
fundraising campaigns that
have raised millions of dollars,
but organizations that help
feed the hungry, award college
scholarships, support medical
research and provide a host of
other critical services have been
thrown for a loop since the
COVID-19 crisis began.
Take the Michigan Jewish
Sports Foundation, which raises
money for annual college schol-
arships, the Karmanos Cancer
Institute, Camp Mak-A-Dream
and the Jewish Community
Center. The foundation is
reeling after being forced to
cancel its 30th Annual Hank
Greenberg Golf and Tennis
Memorial Invitational, one of
the premier golf outings of the
summer. The event was set to
take place June 8 at Franklin
Hills Country Club. Last year’
s
outing raised $80,000.
“This is the first time in 30
years we’
ve had to cancel the
outing. This is devastating to
our foundation and our oper-
ating budget,
” said Sari Cicurel,
the Michigan Jewish Sports
Foundation’
s executive director.
“For the organizations we sup-
port, the need is still there.
”
The foundation is still selling
raffle tickets for the chance to
attend the 2021 Masters and
hosting a free virtual sports
talk event May 20 with ESPN’
s
Adam Schefter and Mike Stone
(aka Stoney), but it’
s safe to say
the coronavirus has thrown the
organization off its game.
FEEDING A NEED
Pontiac-based Lighthouse,
which provides emergency
food, shelter and other support
services for thousands of chil-
dren, families and individuals in
need across southeast Michigan,
postponed its annual Rent Party
scheduled for June and set a
tentative date for August. A
walk/run scheduled for fall and
its annual Dancing With the
Detroit Stars event are still up
in the air.
“We raise close to $500,000
a year just from events,
” said
Lighthouse CEO Ryan Hertz.
“Our events are also friend-rais-
ers. They connect us with new
donors — having to cancel
prevents us from building those
relationships.
”
On top of the cancellations,
COVID-19 created an urgent
COURTESY OF YAD EZRA
continued on page 16
TOP: Golfers Nate Forbes, Jeff Cohen, Steve Rosenthal, Jeff Cohen and Mike Stone
at last year’
s Hank Greenberg golf outing. ABOVE: Yad Ezra makes deliveries with
help from Jewish Family Service.
14 | MAY 14 • 2020
Jews in the D
Fundraising During
A Pandemic
Nonprofi
t organizations scramble to
raise emergency funds, replace
cancelled events.
ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
COURTESY OF MICHIGAN JEWISH SPORTS FOUNDATION