Camille Zelinger fundraising for South Peninsula Jewish Teen Foundation

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." Pericles.

A couple months ago, I applied for and was admitted into the South Peninsula Jewish Teen Foundation (SPJTF), a local Jewish philanthropy organization that serves to educate and assist teens in understanding philanthropy, by connecting them to Jewish philanthropic tradition and empowering them to run their own non-profit foundation.

My foundation’s mission is to choose certain organizations that match our mission statement through a unique and selective process. The mission that we have chosen for the SPJTF this year is to fund programs that provide and support the advocacy of health and shelter for disadvantaged populations including, but not limited to, those in the Bay Area and Israel. Our focus will be on programs that empower individuals to help themselves. My individual goal is to raise $3,000 dollars towards our total, in order to better the lives of those people whomost need our help, by helping to build those organizations that are best able to help theseindividuals and families to help themselves.
To me, the foundation is more than a philanthropic endeavor, it is a Jewish educational experience that will help me and my peers develop the analytical skills to assess the viability,sustainability and effectiveness of organizations that serve the needs of others, as well as the role of tikkun olam and philanthropy in my life.

The SPJTF also provides a hands-on opportunity to develop the skills necessary to influence and collaborate with other thoughtful, directed and influential teens. We make all of our decisions by consensus.

In addition to my personal time and efforts, I am making a personal commitment tocontribute $1,000 dollars of my own money, towards achieving the goals that we have set forthe SPJTF.

I would be honored if you might join me and make a contribution to this worthy cause. Yourdonation is tax-deductible and will be doubled with our $11,000 dollar for dollar match. Any contribution will make an immense difference in the lives of needy and deserving people, and help sustain organizations that serve them.

Thank you in advance for your love, time and serious consideration of my request.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2012,
- Camille Zelinger -