What’s Happening?

“Summer Campaign 2016” Has Begun! Join Us!

May 30, 2016 Billy What's Happening? No comments

Hi!

Yep, it’s that time of year again. Hitting you up for a donation just before you get a chance to spend it on summer movies and frappucinos.

Throughout the winter, we made a whole bunch of grants, doing our best to put your previous frappes (okay, probably ice-cones) to good use. We sent money to:

Treehouse Shakers (dance-theatre for young audiences)
IsraAID (making extraordinary efforts in helping Syrian refugees)
UNICEF (assisting Syrian refugee children)
Play Group Theatre (helping young people grow solid and whole through theatre production)
Morry’s Camp (youth development through summer camping)
And we’ve pledged support to the URJ Kutz Camp as it modernizes for the 21st century

We’d really appreciate a generous donation to keep us busy fulfilling our mission: helping young people build whole, healthy lives.

Angel status available by donating right here.

Thanks so much for being part of our JMF community. It means so much to our family to have you partner with us. It keeps Jonah’s memory strong. And it does a whole lotta good for a whole lotta kids.

Wishing you a fantastic summer,
Ellen, Billy, Katie and Aiden

JMF Makes Gift to Danny Siegel’s Mitzvah Work in Israel

May 10, 2016 Billy Grants, What's Happening? No comments

DannySiegel.01 For decades, one of our personal mitzvah heroes, Danny Siegel, has been teaching young people how and where to make an impact with their tzedakah work. This summer, he is returning once again to Israel where he will mentor his newest group of would-be mitzvah heroes.

The Dreskin family has known and admired Danny for many, many years. The Jonah Maccabee Foundation is honored to partner with Danny in his holy work.

Thank you … to those who, in 2016, have provided funds so we can make a difference in young people’s lives

April 1, 2016 Billy Thank You No comments

Rabbi Joe Black … in honor of the Dreskin family

Rabbi Mo Salth

Cantor Suzanne Bernstein … in honor of Aiden Dreskin

Stacy and Bruce Beyer

Noah Budin

Liz and Mike Scafidi

Kathy Glass

Emily Rosen and Dan Gorka … in honor of Rabbi Billy Dreskin … thank you for all of the time you spent with us this year and for your beautiful participation in our wedding ceremony … we are so grateful for your support

David Paul

Larry Grossman

Eli Malakan … leilui nishmat my grandfather Shimon ben Yehzakel … leilui nishmat Jonah

Rabbi Norman Cohen

Madelyn Katz

Sheldon Low

Ben & Jerry’s of White Plains

Chuck and Jessica Myers

Am Shalom, Glencoe, IL

David and Linda Altshuler

Rabbi Marc Margolius

Karen Steele …. in memory of Sean

Michael Skloff

Harriet Lewis

David and Kathy Gelfand

… and growing!

Shop @ Amazon — Support the JMF!

January 2, 2016 Billy What's Happening? 2 comments

Hi. Here’s an easy way to support The Jonah Maccabee Foundation all year long. Just click on the image at right or the link below and arrange with Amazon.com to send a few dollars our way every now and then. We’ll use it to continue the good works you’ve been supporting all along — helping kids grow healthy, whole lives. Thanks!

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-1736178

Thanks to all who contributed to our “Half Off” Fall Campaign!

January 1, 2016 Billy Thank You No comments

We got a bit silly on this one. We’re grateful for everyone who had a sense of humor about it and who understood that your gifts are so very much needed and appreciated. You fill our hearts and keep us strong.

Fran and Richard Pursell. In honor of the marriage of Lisa Pursell and Jared Saltman.

Marc Richter. In honor of the birthday and anniversary of Jeff and Fern Richter.

Jane Emmer. Indeed you put a smile on my face. Thanks for your hard work in making our world a little bit better. This donation is in honor of our dear friend and yours Rabbi Marcus Burstein and his hard work fighting a nasty disease.

Doug Passon and “Road to Eden.”

Susan Colin and OySongs.

Rabbi David Saperstein.

Danielle Rodnizki. In honor of Ellen Dreskin and the light she brings to the world (and in gratitude for “So Is Life”). Happy Chanukah!

Samuel David Cohen.

Richard and Naomi Binenfeld.

Alice Passer and Barry Krieger. In loving memory of David Passer.

Chuck and Jessica Myers.

Beth Sperber Richie.

Rick Lupert.

Dale Glasser. In honor of Maya and Zachary Glasser.

Harold and Ellen Rubin.

Rabbi Glynis Conyer.

Cantor Julie Yugend-Green.

Morris Kramer.

Helen Meltzer-Krim.

Rabbi Ramie and Merri Arian.

Ira Lichtiger.

Elliott Rosen.

Dan Lucas.

Yvette Shandel.

Stephen and Sherry Jacobs. In honor of David Wiskind and in memory of Jonah Dreskin.

John Planer.

Seth Kroll.

Aaron Spiegel.

Rachel Mylan.

Rabbi Debra Robbins. In honor of Ellen and Billy Dreskin.

Larry Robins and Debra Robbins. In honor of Molly Zimmerman becoming a Bat Mitzvah.

Rona Oberman and Deborah Franzblau.

Roger and Marilyn Price.

Rabbi David Komerofsky.

David Hill.

Rabbi Michael Weinberg.

Wendy Jennis and Doug Mishkin.

Daughters Fund.

Beth Sher.

Bari Ziegel.

Herb and Melissa Baer.

Julie Newman.

Susan and David Berger.

Cantor Zoe Jacobs. With thanks for the beautiful music and sending love to you all.

Rabbi Michael Mellen.

Robin Slater-Sherman.

Roberta Roos.

Rochelle Novins.

Neil Weinstein.

Tracy Fishbein.

Tom Schaeffer.

Julie DeWinter Stein.

Merav Gur and Peter Lobl.

Sally Winter.

Rabbi Renni Altman. In honor of Daniel Wender.

Laura Tobias.

Martha Rosen.

Ilana Matteson.

Don Jones.

Jacob Spike Kraus.

Steven Hagy.

Marc Margolius.

Kathy Tuchman Glass.

Julie and Scott Stein.

Ira and Julia Levin.

Rabbi Robbie Harris.

Lloyd and Roberta Roos.

George Markley.

Aliza Burton.

Donna Spencer.

Matt Grob.

Jan and Alane Katzew.

Wendy and Howard Albert.

Cantor Richard Cohn.

Julie Newman.

Martine Klein and family.

JMF Set to Help Syrian Refugees

November 30, 2015 Billy Grants, What's Happening? No comments

According to UNICEF, “seven and a half million children are affected by the brutal four-year-old conflict in Syria.” Their families (if they still have one) worry about the ongoing violence, the destruction of roads, buildings (their homes!), schools, hospitals and vital services like water and sewage.

2 million child refugees whose families have left Syria in search of safe shelter now face the oncoming winter, on top of everything else.

The Jonah Maccabee Foundation is partnering with UNICEF to try and ensure that food, water, education, warm clothing, blankets and so much more get to these kids.

If you’d like to join us, we’ll make sure your donation gets to where it’s needed. You may donate online by clicking here (specify “The Jonah Maccabee Dreskin Social Justice Fund”).

Thanks!

Susan Colin and OySongs Support JMF

November 29, 2015 Billy Thank You No comments

Susan Colin is a co-owner of OySongs, the online Jewish music download service. At this year’s URJ Biennial in Orlando, Susan was selling CDs and other music products throughout the convention. Among her wares was the “So Is Life” CD just released by Cantor Rosalie Boxt, Cantor Ellen Dreskin, Josh Nelson and Dan Nichols. She sold a whole lot of them but instead of keeping a portion to run her business, she sent her share along to us as well.

That’s a pretty wonderful thing in our book and we want the whole world to know how grateful we are. To show our appreciation, we are pleased to induct Susan into the Order of Stalwart Friends of The Jonah Maccabee Foundation with a special commendation for awesomeness.

Thank you, Susan. We’re so glad to have you on our team.

Everybody else, go spend money at OySongs!

Project Morry Receives Gift from JMF

November 27, 2015 Billy Grants, What's Happening? No comments

We’re so delighted to have awarded a grant from The Jonah Maccabee Foundation to Project Morry, a nonprofit, year-round youth development organization that helps young people from underserved communities in and around New York City to succeed in school and in life. Each year, more than 400 children participate in enriching learning opportunities at summer camp and throughout the school year.

JMF is honored to support Project Morry!

Remembering Iris Siegel

November 24, 2015 Billy Thank You No comments

We’re so deeply grateful to everyone who donated in memory of Ellen’s mom, Iris Siegel. Iris was a beautiful soul who lived a long, wonderful life, loved by her family and her friends alike. Everyone who met her was struck by her cheerful grace and unforgettable smile. Her memory is a blessing to us all.

Elizabeth Sher. In tribute to and in memory of Iris Siegel, whose legacy has enriched my life by at least 5 Dreskins so far.

Myron Katz.

Alan and Gwynne Ross.

Fran Rosenfeld.

Melissa Swift and Diane Robertson.

Faye, Evan and Rachel Friedman.

Caryn Roman.

Todd Gordon and Susan Feder.

Jodie and Steven Meltzer.

Don and June Moskovitz.

Nicole Roos.

Herb Friedman.

Ed and Dotty Miller.

Yvette and Larry Gralla.

Andy and Joan Farber.

Pam and Joel Chernoff.

Harriet Kohn.

Roberta and Roger Wetherbee.

Rochelle Novins.

Sheila and Dick Sweet.

Fern and Ira Stein.

Cantor Dana Anesi.

Lisa Sacks.

Barry and Judith Kessler

Doug Passon: Another Good Guy Award

November 11, 2015 Billy Thank You, What's Happening? No comments

Our heartfelt thanks go out to Doug Passon, President and Creative Director of D Major Films, for his kindness and generosity during the “So Is Life” performance at the URJ Biennial in Orlando last week.

Doug is responsible for producing the documentary, “Road to Eden,” which follows singer-songwriter Dan Nichols as he and his band took to the road in October 2011, touring the deep south throughout the Jewish festival of Sukkot. As is written on the documentary’s website: “Road to Eden encapsulates Sukkot’s profound, and little understood message: We are all traveling together on a road to a better future, a time when the Earth can become a true Eden for all humankind. Sukkot reminds us that the time is now, and our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to get up, get out, and make it happen.”

At the “So Is Life” performance, Doug got up, got out, and made it happen. He turned to me and said, “I want to donate the income from everything I sell here this afternoon.” So he and I spent the next two hours missing most of the concert as we shmoozed with folks who wandered over to us, hawked our goods, and then he gave every penny he’d earned to The Jonah Maccabee Foundation.

So thank you, Doug. You are hereby inducted into the Order of Stalwart Friends of The Jonah Maccabee Foundation. And we love you for it!

Learn more about “Road to Eden” right here.

Billy