Humans flock to JCA exhibition
JCA put fun back into fundraising on May 26 at the launch of its Humans of JCA exhibition at Pacific Bondi Beach.
JCA put fun back into fundraising on May 26 at the launch of its Humans of JCA exhibition at Pacific Bondi Beach.
More than 70 major donors wined and dined, enjoyed live music and sipped cocktails while they soaked in the stunning photographic display featuring staff, volunteers and clients from the 23 communal organisations JCA supports.
There were morning tea and cocktail sessions in the gallery in the days that followed and further lively events are in store for June 4, 5, 8, 14 and 15.
From capturing the special bond between a Montefiore Home staff member and a Holocaust survivor resident to a Masada College high school student’s joy upon rediscovering his Jewish identity, the range of photos and their accompanying descriptions are designed to deeply engage and connect.
JCA engagement and fundraising committee member Kathy Shand told the donors, “I hope you can all sense the new vitality and energy that’s here.
“There is intent within JCA to recognise what you all want from JCA and to deliver it in ways that you can see, you can hear and feel.”
Amid the party vibe at the launch was a serious undertone.
JCA president Stephen Chipkin said the JCA is in a critical period of change as it responds to the challenges of falling donor numbers, an ageing donor base and leadership team.
“Finding innovative approaches to maximise meaningful community engagement has never been more important,” Chipkin said.
“We realised that without taking active steps, the trajectory for our community was an ever-weakening one, so we began the first stage of the journey.
“We’ve launched Jumpstart which is our NextGen initiative; we’re about to pilot From Now to Next, a project aiming to facilitate family discussions about inter-generational philanthropy.
“Our Donor Advisory Group is up and running; The Giving Forum was established and there’s Project Giving, which we’re going to introduce later in the year.
“But sometimes we need to be reminded of what we have to lose to appreciate why we should take such care to preserve it.
“We need you along on this journey and frankly, in a few years’ time, we need your children to be leading it [JCA] because if you leave it to the ageing few, there won’t be a vibrant or sustainable or secure [NSW/ACT] Jewish community to speak of in a decade or two’s time.”
SHANE DESIATNIK
For more information about scheduled ticketed exhibition viewing events and how to make a donation to JCA, visit www.jca.org.au or call (02) 9360 2344.
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