Fundraising amid the coronavirus pandemic
JCA plans to highlight how strong communal support over many years has enabled it to release $18 million for communal organisations to provide increased services due to COVID-19.
EVERYTHING was locked in earlier this year for “an amazing campaign”, JCA CEO Alain Hasson told The AJN.
But with the coronavirus outbreak taking hold and communal events – including JCA’s gala – being cancelled en masse, the organisation has been forced to re-think.
Describing JCA’s yearly major event as an important way to engage with the community, highlight what it is doing, thank supporters and share the organisation’s future plans, Hasson said, “That’s taken away from us, but it just means we need to find other ways to connect with the community and have those conversations.”
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, demand for COA’s Kosher Meals on Wheels has increased three-fold and has seen the organisation delivering more than 6000 meals a month to those in need, such as Dorothy. COA is one of 23 member organisations of JCA which is seeking the community's support during this critical time. To read more about JCA's campaign, visit https://www.australianjewishnews.com/fundraising-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic/
פורסם על ידי The Australian Jewish News ב- יום ראשון, 17 במאי 2020
This year, JCA plans to highlight how strong communal support over many years has enabled it to release $18 million for communal organisations to provide increased services necessitated by the pandemic and showcase those organisations’ contribution.
“The major thing for me is to recognise and show gratitude that we’re in such a stable position because of the long-term support and trust of our community,” Hasson said.
“Most organisations that have been impacted by COVID-19 have still needed to continue providing services and their response has been brilliant. Our organisations have done credit to this community. I applaud every single one of them.”
With an end to Australia’s COVID-19 pandemic hopefully in sight, the campaign will also focus on the community’s needs next year and into the future.
Hasson said the NSW Jewish community’s three main challenges – what an ageing population will mean for services over the next decade, rising antisemitism and the associated security impact, and access to a Jewish education and the affordability issues therein – remained the same.
Asked what changes he has seen at JCA in his seven years there, he said the change from its once centralised model, firstly with the advent of independent projects and then last year allowing donors an option to direct their funding, allows “full transparency, a greater understanding of where the money goes and an ability to make an impact to a program of [their] choosing”.
Hasson said the establishment of Jumpstart – which specifically engages the younger community – has been a great success, pointing to the annual Shark Tank event and JCA’s Observership programs as highlights.
Looking towards the future of JCA and the community, he said, “Our ability to evolve, innovate, really transform, is only limited by the next generation of leaders in our organisations, the imagination of those organisations and by the resources available.
“The NSW Jewish community can without question be one of the strongest Jewish communities in the world.”
To donate: jca.org.au.
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