3 minute read
Looking Back: Year 2017
2017 Main Event: The Levine Leap Inspires Donors To Pledge the Most in Main Event History
The Jewish Federation’s 2017 Main Event, held on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at Temple Israel, was a night to remember.
Main Event co-chairs, David and Debra Van Glish, welcomed nearly 600 people to the event, which featured guest speaker Joshuah Malina, cast member of “West Wing” and “Scandal,” who described himself to our generous donors and community leaders as a performer second and a Jew first. In his speech “How to Remain a Mensch in Hollywood,” Joshua Malina linked his strong Jewish upbringing to his support for the great work the Jewish Federation does throughout the local and worldwide Jewish community. His solid Jewish identity and passion for Israel were key elements to his warm, witty, smart and very personal remarks. Following The Main Event, Joshua Malina was gracious and charming as he posed for endless photos with both devoted and new fans.
The Main Event is the official kick-off to the Jewish Federation’s 2017 Annual Campaign, and David Van Glish took the opportunity to announce the 2017 Campaign goal by saying, “To meet the needs of our entire community, Federation is working its way to a $4 million campaign with a goal this year of $3,750,000. Admittedly, that’s a lot of money, but it enables us to thrive in this amazing Jewish community we call home.
David continued his remarks with the following exciting announcements, “And to jumpstart us on our way, I am honored to announce that The Leon Levine Foundation is making a gift of $706,000 to our 2017 Campaign! Please join me in thanking Leon and Sandra Levine for their cornerstone gift to our campaign, which demonstrates their profound commitment not only to the Federation but to each and every one of us as well.
“In addition to their own generous gift, The Leon Levine Foundation is helping us ‘jumpstart’ the Campaign with a creative and motivating match – The Levine Leap! The Leon Levine Foundation will generously match the LEAP of any donors who increase their gift to the next giving level.”
And respond they did!
The 2017 Main Event raised $330,281 which includes $23,336 from The Levine Leap! To learn more about how you can take advantage of this incredible opportunity, please call Sue Littauer at the Federation office 704-9446758.
Special thanks go to David and Debra Van Glish and their hardworking Host Committee for making the 2017 Main Event such a huge success!
And we’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors, Swimmer Insurance Agency and Impact Shift Media, and all of the Honorable Menschen donors who went above and beyond to support the 2017 Main Event.
