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

