20 | NOVEMBER 11 • 2021 

OUR COMMUNITY

O

n a clear 70-degree Sunday 
at the end of September, the 
Jewish Federation of Greater 
Ann Arbor welcomed its Major and 
Legacy donors for an afternoon of 
togetherness and pride in 
the local Jewish community 
at the Major Gifts Event, 
featuring Israeli Knesset 
Member Alon Tal. 
The first “hybrid” 
in-person/virtual event 
that Federation has held, 
nearly 100 guests gathered 
at the Polo Fields Golf & Country Club, 
with another 40 logging in to Zoom to 
participate. In-person attendees enjoyed 
“high tea-inspired” finger sandwich 
appetizers, while virtual participants 
received goody bags delivered to their 
homes. At the Polo Fields, those in 
attendance caught up with old friends 
and met new ones in the open air of 
a patio overlooking lush rolling hills. 
The refrain of “how nice” it was to see 
everyone “in real life” was heard over 

and over. The event was chaired by 
Robin and Brad Axelrod, and Ed and 
Mona Goldman.
The Major Gifts Event is an annual 
celebration that has traditionally been 
open to community members who 
donate $5,000 or more to Federation’s 
Annual Community Campaign, as well 
as to those under the age of 40 who give 
$1,000 or more. This year, that group 
was expanded to include members of 
our community who have committed 
to an after-lifetime gift to Federation 
through the LIFE & LEGACY program. 
Together, Ann Arbor Federation’s 
generous major donors raised over 
$980,000 for the 2021 Annual 
Community Campaign and are poised 
to make an equally impressive impact 
for the 2022 Campaign, which launched 
September of this year and will extend 
through May 2022.

TAKING CARE OF ONE ANOTHER
At its core, the Jewish Federation 
of Greater Ann Arbor’s Annual 

Community Campaign is how we, as a 
community, take care of one another. In 
partnership with Federation’s beneficiary 
organizations, the Campaign builds and 
sustains our local and worldwide Jewish 
community. The money raised from the 
Annual Community Campaign goes 
straight to our most needed community 
organizations, including the JCC, Jewish 
Family Services and Hillels at U-M and 
EMU. 
It also supports older adults living 
in poverty in the former Soviet Union 
and a youth movement for children 
with disabilities in Israel, among other 
overseas organizations. The Campaign 
allows these beneficiary organizations 
to focus on their missions of serving 
the community without having to 
worry about raising the funds needed 
to cover the costs of personnel and 
program supplies. Federation is proud 
of the work of these partners and is 
deeply grateful to all the donors who 
make their work possible. For more 
information on money raised and 

Israeli Knesset Member Alon Tal joins in the festivities via Zoom.

Ann Arbor 
Federation 
Celebrates 2022 
Annual Community 
Campaign

Rachel Wall 
Special to the 
Jewish News

Alon Tal 
Zooming in 
from Israel

COURTESY OF ANN ARBOR FEDERATION

