The Charlotte Jewish News - December 2020 - Page 11
Take the One Million Dollar Challenge: Can We Count On You? By Marisa Jackson The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on each of us. It has challenged your lives in the same way it has challenged our community. Our Levine JCC is not immune to the challenges of COVID and the impact on our J is significant. In this difficult moment, the Leon Levine Foundation has given us a new challenge — to raise one million dollars — generously agreeing to match your contributions dollar for dollar, and donating for every member who re-joins the LJCC or deepens their support, up to $500,000 to ensure our J remains vibrant! In order to meet the challenge, it will take our entire community working together. The challenge has been underway for two months, and the response has been incredible! Over 200 members of our community have made donations to the campaign, totaling over $200,000! To the over 80 members who have restored their membership or deepened their support by becoming Distinctive members, thank you! You probably know by now that nearly 40% of our members have frozen or cancelled their membership since March, resulting in a multi-million dollar loss. Without a significant return of membership, our Levine JCC is faced with continued and deepening challenges. To those who have stayed members through the pandemic, thank you You may also be aware that due to restrictions put in place to ensure the health and safety of our community we were not able to offer many of our programs and services over the spring and summer of 2020. This resulted in additional, substantial loss. Due to the overwhelming
support we have received from our community, we are well on our way to meeting this challenge! However, in order for our community’s Levine JCC to remain a vibrant center for Jewish life in Charlotte for generations to come, we need the support of each and every member of our community! This is where the One Million Dollar Challenge comes in. There are three ways you can help us meet the challenge: reactivating your membership, upgrading your membership, or by making a donation. Your LJCC needs you now more than ever! Your LJCC membership is not only about programs and services, it’s about our community. Did you know — Every lap you swim helps to feed Oasis seniors. At the beginning of the Pandemic, we committed to ensuring for our seniors’ food security. Staff make bi-weekly meal deliveries to participants living alone or with senior children themselves. To date Oasis has delivered over 4,500 meals to 30 unique individuals. Every time you exercise at the LJCC you ensure that the Butterfly Project continues to educate children through the lessons of the Holocaust. The Butterfly Project workshop teaches what can happen when prejudice, discrimination and bias are allowed to flourish. The goal of the Butterfly Project is to teach each participant to remember the past, to act responsibly in the present, and to create a more peaceful future. And every week your child attends Camp, you ensure that a child with special needs attends Camp SOAR. As one camper quoted, “I love Camp SOAR because you aren’t judged here. In the real world, people judge you because you’re different. But not at Camp SOAR. At Camp
SOAR, everyone is the same and there is no judgement.” The J’s role in the community is as vital as ever. By taking the One Million Dollar Challenge you double your impact to the community — it’s that simple. Just think — By reactivating your membership to the Levine JCC for about $100 a month you can ensure your J remains strong and vibrant and is here for our community for generations to come. Plus, for those reactivating, we will waive the joining fee for the remainder of 2020. To reactivate your Membership
— Call 704-944-6737 or visit www.charlottejcc.org/join By upgrading your Levine JCC membership level to a Benefactor or Grand Benefactor, you are supporting our commitment to provide high quality programs and community services. Upgrade your Membership Level Call 704-944-6737 or visit www.charlottejcc.org/ upgrade. By making a one time or reoccurring donation, you are directly supporting our mission to enrich lives and build relationships through quality Jewish experiences. To make a Dona-
tion call 704-544-2051 or visit www.charlottejcc.org/donate But, we only have until December 31, 2020 to make it count! We haven’t faced a challenge like this in over 20 years, Can we count on you to meet this challenge?
