WRJ Yes Fund and Lifelines: Pacific District's Culture of Giving
Women of the Pacific District have a wonderful opportunity this fall to give to WRJ's YES (Youth, Education, and Special Projects) Fund. By making a donation to the YES Fund when you register for the Pacific District Convention or when you attend the YES Fund Brunch at the Convention, you help to support the following programs. As you read, you may click on the links to learn more about where YES Fund money goes.
The YES Fund trains future leaders of Reform Judaism by providing scholarships for rabbinical and cantorial students at HUC-JIR's four campuses, Leo Baeck College in London, the Ibero-American Institute for Reform Rabbinical Education (IIFRR) in Buenos Aires, and Geiger College in Berlin.
Support of youth is among the YES Fund's proudest achievements. WRJ founded and continues to support NFTY, as well as URJ Camps and Israel programs, where our youth build friendships, establish strong Jewish identities, and develop leadership skills.
The YES Fund was among the initial donors of the URJ Campaign for Youth Engagement (CYE) when it launched in 2011 and continues to support programs that engage and inspire Reform Jewish youth.
The YES Fund also provides annual support to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), helping to fund an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant, who advocates for Jewish values and social justice.
The YES Fund's reach is global, providing support for the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) and its programs around the world. The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) receives funding to continue the struggle for religious pluralism in Israel.
From establishing Reform institutions and training clergy to supporting youth around the world, the YES Fund has helped strengthen and grow Reform Judaism for 100 years.
Inspired to make a donation right now? Just click on the WRJ YES FUND Donation and Lifeline Pledge Form and fill out the online pledge card completely (make sure to add the name of your sisterhood and "Pacific District" on the form). Thank you for supporting the YES Fund!
In addition to making donations to the YES Fund, some of you are working on Lifelines. The YES Lifeline program is the program to give to if you want to support WRJ's awareness of the need to plan for the future needs of our Jewish community. Those who contribute to the WRJ YES Fund Lifeline Fund, the annual interest of which directly supports the YES Fund, are helping to ensure it endures l'dor vador (from generation to generation).
YES Fund Lifeline gifts are also a meaningful way to recognize someone who has touched your life or to honor a family member, thanking someone for taking on a leadership role, a conversion, a confirmation, a graduation, an ordination, or as a memorial to someone.
Upon completion of a YES Fund Lifeline level (listed below), you will receive a handmade sterling silver or 14K gold pin with the appropriate gemstones corresponding to and signifying your generous contribution.
If you are currently working on a Lifeline or are about to complete one, this is an excellent opportunity to finish paying it off and have it presented at our Pacific District Convention. If you are interested in doing so, please make your final payments to the WRJ (you can use: WRJ YES FUND Donation and Lifeline Pledge Form) and ask them to send your pin directly to you. Then, please send Carol Schuster an email to let her know you would like to be part of the presentation at the convention YES Fund Brunch. There will be a special post-Convention Lifeline celebration as well.
If you are inspired to start a Lifeline and have it announced at our Pacific District Convention in October, you can now start your Lifeline online.
If you have any questions about how to donate to the YES Fund or to a Lifeline, please contact Carol Schuster or WRJ Manager of Philanthropy Shari Schulner at sschulner@wrj.org or (212) 650- 4072. Thank you for being part of our district's generous culture of giving!
Carol Schuster, WRJ Pacific District VP of Fundraising, Development, and the YES Fund
The YES Fund trains future leaders of Reform Judaism by providing scholarships for rabbinical and cantorial students at HUC-JIR's four campuses, Leo Baeck College in London, the Ibero-American Institute for Reform Rabbinical Education (IIFRR) in Buenos Aires, and Geiger College in Berlin.
Support of youth is among the YES Fund's proudest achievements. WRJ founded and continues to support NFTY, as well as URJ Camps and Israel programs, where our youth build friendships, establish strong Jewish identities, and develop leadership skills.
The YES Fund was among the initial donors of the URJ Campaign for Youth Engagement (CYE) when it launched in 2011 and continues to support programs that engage and inspire Reform Jewish youth.
The YES Fund also provides annual support to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), helping to fund an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant, who advocates for Jewish values and social justice.
The YES Fund's reach is global, providing support for the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) and its programs around the world. The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) receives funding to continue the struggle for religious pluralism in Israel.
From establishing Reform institutions and training clergy to supporting youth around the world, the YES Fund has helped strengthen and grow Reform Judaism for 100 years.
Inspired to make a donation right now? Just click on the WRJ YES FUND Donation and Lifeline Pledge Form and fill out the online pledge card completely (make sure to add the name of your sisterhood and "Pacific District" on the form). Thank you for supporting the YES Fund!
In addition to making donations to the YES Fund, some of you are working on Lifelines. The YES Lifeline program is the program to give to if you want to support WRJ's awareness of the need to plan for the future needs of our Jewish community. Those who contribute to the WRJ YES Fund Lifeline Fund, the annual interest of which directly supports the YES Fund, are helping to ensure it endures l'dor vador (from generation to generation).
YES Fund Lifeline gifts are also a meaningful way to recognize someone who has touched your life or to honor a family member, thanking someone for taking on a leadership role, a conversion, a confirmation, a graduation, an ordination, or as a memorial to someone.
Upon completion of a YES Fund Lifeline level (listed below), you will receive a handmade sterling silver or 14K gold pin with the appropriate gemstones corresponding to and signifying your generous contribution.
- Centennial Lifeline: $100,000
- Emerald Lifeline: $36,000
- Diamond Lifeline: $18,000
- Pearl Lifeline: $10,000
- Gold Lifeline: $5,000
- Silver Lifeline: $1,800
If you are currently working on a Lifeline or are about to complete one, this is an excellent opportunity to finish paying it off and have it presented at our Pacific District Convention. If you are interested in doing so, please make your final payments to the WRJ (you can use: WRJ YES FUND Donation and Lifeline Pledge Form) and ask them to send your pin directly to you. Then, please send Carol Schuster an email to let her know you would like to be part of the presentation at the convention YES Fund Brunch. There will be a special post-Convention Lifeline celebration as well.
If you are inspired to start a Lifeline and have it announced at our Pacific District Convention in October, you can now start your Lifeline online.
If you have any questions about how to donate to the YES Fund or to a Lifeline, please contact Carol Schuster or WRJ Manager of Philanthropy Shari Schulner at sschulner@wrj.org or (212) 650- 4072. Thank you for being part of our district's generous culture of giving!
Carol Schuster, WRJ Pacific District VP of Fundraising, Development, and the YES Fund
Part of WRJ’s philanthropic work includes grants to others in the Reform community who share our goals in keeping the Movement lively and forward-thinking. Through our YES Fund (Youth, Education, and Special Projects), you provide needed support to URJ camps impacted by COVID-19 as they navigate these unusual times, fund URJ’s NFTY Kol Koleinu Feminist Fellowship to further empowerment training for young women, continue to support Rabbinic students in North America, Israel, London, and Berlin, and so much more!
Each fiscal year we honor those groups who have gone above and beyond in their YES Fund donations. Depending on your group’s membership level, we honor contributions made to the YES Fund, and YES Fund product purchases, by your group, and all members of your group with three levels of honor: Chai Honor, Special Merit, and Honor.
Thank you to our 2019-2020 YES Fund Honor Roll Recipients!
Each fiscal year we honor those groups who have gone above and beyond in their YES Fund donations. Depending on your group’s membership level, we honor contributions made to the YES Fund, and YES Fund product purchases, by your group, and all members of your group with three levels of honor: Chai Honor, Special Merit, and Honor.
Thank you to our 2019-2020 YES Fund Honor Roll Recipients!
Women of Temple Beth Hillel - Valley Village, CA
Beth Am Women - Los Altos Hills, CA
Peninsula Temple Sholom Sisterhood Burlingame, CA
Temple Beth El Sisterhood - Tacoma, WA
Temple Emanuel of Tempe Sisterhood - Tempe, AZ Temple Emanu-el Sisterhood - Tucson, AZ
Women of Isaiah - Lafayette, CA
Peninsula Temple Sholom Sisterhood Burlingame, CA
Temple Beth El Sisterhood - Tacoma, WA
Temple Emanuel of Tempe Sisterhood - Tempe, AZ Temple Emanu-el Sisterhood - Tucson, AZ
Women of Isaiah - Lafayette, CA
Congregation Albert Sisterhood - Albuquerque, NM
Congregation B'nai Emet Sisterhood - Simi Valley, CA
Congregation Emanu El Sisterhood - Redlands, CA
Congregation Or Chadash Sisterhood - Tucson, AZ
Temple Ahavat Shalom Sisterhood - Northridge, CA
Kol Ami Women of Reform Judaism - Vancouver, WA
Temple Akiba Sisterhood - Culver City, CA
Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood - Fresno, CA
Temple Beth Ohr Sisterhood - La Mirada, CA
Temple B'nai Torah Sisterhood - Bellevue, WA
Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood - San Jose, CA
Temple Israel Sisterhood - Long Beach, CA
Temple Sinai Sisterhood - Glendale, CA
The Women of B'nai Israel - Sacramento, CA
University Synagogue Sisterhood - Los Angeles, CA
Women of Temple Bat Yahm - Newport Beach, CA
Women of Temple Beth Torah - Fremont, CA
Women of Temple Sinai - Oakland, CA
Congregation B'nai Emet Sisterhood - Simi Valley, CA
Congregation Emanu El Sisterhood - Redlands, CA
Congregation Or Chadash Sisterhood - Tucson, AZ
Temple Ahavat Shalom Sisterhood - Northridge, CA
Kol Ami Women of Reform Judaism - Vancouver, WA
Temple Akiba Sisterhood - Culver City, CA
Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood - Fresno, CA
Temple Beth Ohr Sisterhood - La Mirada, CA
Temple B'nai Torah Sisterhood - Bellevue, WA
Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood - San Jose, CA
Temple Israel Sisterhood - Long Beach, CA
Temple Sinai Sisterhood - Glendale, CA
The Women of B'nai Israel - Sacramento, CA
University Synagogue Sisterhood - Los Angeles, CA
Women of Temple Bat Yahm - Newport Beach, CA
Women of Temple Beth Torah - Fremont, CA
Women of Temple Sinai - Oakland, CA
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