Jewish Fund-Raiser Rich in Good Deeds

Masseur Chad Berman wanted to make sure the volunteers were comfortable. So with massage chair in tow, he kneaded the sore muscles, stiff necks and strained hands of volunteers who operated phones Sunday for the Jewish Federation/Valley Alliance’s United Jewish Fund “Super Sunday Phone-A-Thon.”

“I want them to make as much money as possible,” said Berman, who has donated his massage services to the fund-raising drive for the last four years.

The 21-year-old event is the largest single fund-raising day for the Valley group, which uses the money to support humanitarian and social services for Jews locally and overseas, said event coordinator Barbara Creme.

Last year, the Valley group raised $1.5 million. Sunday’s goal at the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus was $2 million. By Sunday afternoon, about $450,000 had been raised.

“This is the day we bring the whole Jewish community together,” Creme said of the 1,000 volunteers expected to turn out.

Some, like first-time volunteer Ari Somers, planned to answer phones until 9 p.m.

“What’s one day if I can help some people?” he said.

The Valley effort was part of simultaneous Super Sunday drives by three other divisions of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Citywide, the federation aimed to raise $5 million by mobilizing up to 5,000 volunteers. The money raised through the event generates about 10% of the federation’s $50 million annual budget, said organizers.

While adults and teens made telephone calls to solicit donations, children participated in a Mitzvah-thon, in which they made beaded key chains and friendship quilts for children in hospitals.

“I feel pretty good about this,” said 11-year-old Adam Weston, as he put the finishing touches on a key chain. “When they see this, they’ll probably feel very happy.”

Pam Ross, preschool director at the West Valley Jewish Community Center, said the social action projects were geared to “make children more aware of giving.” Mitzvah is Hebrew for good deed.

Kosovar refugee Lumnie Valshi did her own good deed Sunday by placing the first phone call. She and her family were forced to flee Albanian repression in Kosovo last year. They arrived in the U.S. in May and received assistance from the federation, which helped them find housing, schools, jobs and English classes.

“I wanted to make the first call because this event raised funds to help my family,” said the 23-year-old, who hopes to return to Kosovo someday. “This was my way of giving back.”