Back row: Avidan Itzhak, Rabbi Avi Farkas, David Calliott, Rabbi Yedidya Koven, Ryan Benton, and Matthew Kramer-Morning.Front Row: Michael Yaary, Adam Walker, Avi Horowitz, Troy Ingram, Rick Rivin, Danny Rubin, Ian Cummings, Jonathan Kugel, Adam Fox, Alexander Fishman, and Shalom Markman.
NADIV, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s young men’s Giving Circle, recently completed this year’s giving process at the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth.
On a Sunday evening in February the members were hosted for a dinner, learned about the mission of the museum, and explored through a values-based discussion how they wished to distribute the funds they have raised this year.
The group, which met in December to explore its shared philanthropic values, decided to focus on life saving initiatives. At JMCC, the group met, learned, and debated three incredible initiatives needed by UJFT’s funding partners. Ultimately the discussion settled on splitting the funds raised between Jewish Family Service of Tidewater (JFS) and the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).
Locally, funds given to JFS will go to support local Russian Holocaust survivors whose funding this year had been cut from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, or “Claims Conference.” This money will support services for these survivors including case management, transportation, food and financial assistance, and assistance with obtaining medical supplies.
Internationally, dollars given to JDC will go directly to support civilians living in Ukraine with food supplies and fuel for emergency generators to provide warmth. As the invasion of Ukraine is in its second year, supplies are needed for civilians whose lives have been in a state of disruption and unknowing.
The giving circle raises money through its dues paying members and through the NADIV Bracket Challenge that takes place in March. This year, NADIV’s 13 sponsors for the challenge contributed $5,000 for the giving circle, in addition to the brackets. The men of NAVID are grateful to everyone who purchased a bracket in support of the giving circle and these important causes, and to the challenge’s sponsors.
Matthew Kramer-Morning is United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Leadership Campaign director. He may be reached at mkmorning@ujft.org.