AZA & BBG
Celebrating the Success of Nassau Suffolk and Colombia in ISF Fundraising
BBYO regions around the world have been hard at work raising funds for the International Service Fund (ISF), a cornerstone of BBYO’s commitment to empowering Jewish teens and creating meaningful global change while emphasizing the values of tikkun olam and tzedakah. Today, we are thrilled to spotlight the incredible achievements of Nassau Suffolk Region (NSR) and Colombia, whose innovative and inspiring fundraisers have brought their communities closer together, made a significant impact, and helped them hit their ISF goals for the year.
This year, NSR hosted an ISF Shuk Thrift Store during their annual Regional Kickoff event, proving that fundraising can be fun, creative, and wildly successful. The thrift store raised $300 for the ISF and allowed chapters to sell leftover shuk to fund their own initiatives, benefiting both the region and individual chapters.
More than just a fundraiser, the event became an educational opportunity for chapter Gizborim to learn about the ISF’s impact and how their efforts contribute to a global movement. By tying the fundraiser to an already highly anticipated event, NSR ensured maximum participation and excitement, demonstrating the power of leveraging popular programs to achieve fundraising goals.
Jordy emphasized the importance of using large regional events to maximize fundraising efforts: “This fundraiser allowed chapter Gizborim to become more educated on the positive impact the ISF has and how it is fundraised for! I encourage those hosting fundraisers to leverage already existing and popular events that people are excited to attend, as this will make it much easier to engage more teens in the aspects of fundraising.”
NSR is currently $300 into their $2,500 ISF goal. Keep up the incredible work, Jordy, Sean, and all of NSR’s regional board and chapter Gizborim!
Colombia made an unforgettable debut in ISF fundraising this year with a bake sale held at their community center, raising $300 for the ISF and an additional $100 for their region. This milestone marks the first time Colombia has contributed to the ISF, a significant achievement that reflects the region’s dedication to BBYO’s mission.
The bake sale also served as a platform to educate the community about BBYO and the ISF, increasing awareness and engagement among both teens and adults. Judith, Colombia’s regional N’siah behind the event, emphasized the importance of education in the fundraising process:
“It was the first time we contributed to the ISF as a region, we met our goal for the year, and increased awareness about BBYO in our community!” Judith shared. “We not only fundraised but also educated new members about the ISF and community members about BBYO, giving us lots of exposure in our local community.”
Colombia’s efforts didn’t just meet their fundraising goals—they exceeded expectations, helping their region contribute to the ISF for the first time in history.
Both NSR and Colombia have set shining examples of what can be accomplished through creativity, collaboration, and education. Their fundraisers not only raised significant funds for the ISF but also strengthened their regional communities, engaged teens in meaningful ways, and inspired others to think outside the box when planning their own initiatives.
As we celebrate their success, we hope their stories serve as inspiration for other regions looking to make an impact. Whether it’s repurposing old shuk items or hosting a bake sale, these events prove that every effort, big or small, contributes to the incredible work of the ISF and the global BBYO community.
Congratulations to Nassau Suffolk and Colombia for their dedication, innovation, and incredible contributions to the ISF!
From the current Grand Aleph Gizbor and International Gizborit.
All views expressed on content written for The Shofar represent the opinions and thoughts of the individual authors. The author biography represents the author at the time in which they were in BBYO.
