CHARITABLE GIVING
translates to volunteering, too.

Some nonprofi t leaders have
found that Jews of this genera-
tion enjoy donating their time.

Malkie Schwartz is the
founder of Bikkur Cholim
of Philadelphia, which helps
kids who are hospitalized or
homebound. Bikkur Cholim
off ers fresh food, toys and
“anything to make it easier,”
Schwartz said.

In November, a group of
high school girls made salads
and lasagna to deliver. A school
approaching the organiza-
tion with an off er to help is
common, according to the
founder. So is a Bat Mitzvah girl
asking to do her service project
with Bikkur Cholim. Th e most
recent one consisted of the girl
wrapping sashes of soap and
shampoo with bows on top.

Since COVID broke out in
March 2020, older volunteers
have been more hesitant about
going to hospitals. So now,
the organization has younger
people visiting local hospitals
to stock its food pantries.

“When you help somebody
else, you feel good about it,”
Schwartz said.

Samuel Domsky is the
chair of Project H.O.P.E. in the
Dresher area. Every Passover,
the charitable organization
provides meals to the needy
and elderly.

While Domsky doesn’t get
much money from millennials,
he does get their time. Each
spring, young Jews come to
Temple Sinai in Dresher to
bag food and then drive it out
to people.

By participating, millen-
nials see what their eff orts are
doing. Th ey grow to under-
stand that they are helping
people in their community.

“It gives them a sense that
they really have contributed to
something that’s meaningful,”
Domsky said.

Participation also makes
millennials more likely to
donate at least a little bit of
money. Domsky gets 200-plus
donations a year. Many are
small, like $10 or $25, and,
therefore, doable for younger
residents. “We want people to volun-
teer, get involved in the
program and then take owner-
ship of it,” he said.

Galvanizing millennials
into deep involvement is diffi -
cult for organizations. But,
as Domsky explained, it’s
not impossible.

For a generation skeptical of
institutions, commitment must
be earned.

Th is is perhaps easier for
narrowly focused initiatives
like the Tribe 12 fellowship
program, Bikkur Cholim and
Project H.O.P.E. But for a
wide-ranging nonprofi t like the
Jewish Federation of Greater
Philadelphia, it’s a little harder.

“Our parents’ generation
gave to the (Jewish) Federation
because it’s what you do,” said
Adam Klazmer, the board
chair of NextGen, the Jewish
Federation’s under 40 group.

“Our generation has needed
more of a purpose.”
To handle this challenge,
NextGen tries to recruit
local Jews into its leader-
ship development program.

Th e program requires little
more than a commitment to
learn about what the Jewish
Legacy Federation does.

“Here’s what we do to
support Israel, Holocaust
survivors, Jewish education,”
Klazmer said. “Here’s what we
do to make sure Jewish kids get
Chanukah presents.”
By explaining those eff orts,
the program helps millennials
learn which Jewish Federation
cause might mean the most
to them. Th en, once they get
involved, they stay involved
and are more likely to trust the
organization. Klazmer and several other
NextGen board members got
involved through the develop-
ment program.

“Th at seems to be the most
successful way for people to get
involved,” Klazmer said. l
jsaff ren@jewishexponent.com;
215-832-0740 W H AT W I L L YO U R
BE? FIVE EASY WAYS TO CREATE A JEWISH LEGACY:
Add a simple bequest in your will or trust
Name the Jewish Federation as the beneficiary of an IRA, 401k or pension
Name the Jewish Federation as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or
purchase a life insurance policy with the Jewish Federation as the owner or
beneficiary and receive tax benefits
Make a grant through your Donor Advised Fund or Private Foundation
Establish a Charitable Gift Annuity (to pay you a guaranteed, fixed income
for the rest of your life – a percentage of which is tax deductible)
Help ensure a strong and vibrant Jewish community for generations to come.

For more information, contact Jennifer Brier, Director of Planned Giving and
Endowments at jbrier@jewishphilly.org or call 215.832.0528
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DECEMBER 2, 2021
17