Winnipeg’s annual Combined Jewish Appeal campaign kicks off on Super Sunday Sept. 11 with a new campaign manager – Regina Teplitsky – and a goal of at least equalling the final dollar figure for the 2016-017 campaign.
Elaine Goldstine, incoming CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, said Teplitsky, her successor as campaign chair, has already met with representatives of most of the partner agencies about collaborating on Super Sunday and showcasing their services.
The fundraising goal for this year is $5.8 million, Teplitsky said. The CJA had its most successful year in 2015, raising more than $5.86 million, $250,000 more than the 2014 total of $5.65 million.
“With enthusiastic leadership of our dedicated volunteers, chairs and our partner agencies, the annual campaign surpassed all our expectations,” Teplitsky said. “It’s important to acknowledge our hundreds of volunteers, board of directors and our amazing CJA team for their dedication to, and passion for, our campaign.”
Back for a second year chairing the campaign is veteran CJA canvasser Bryan Klein, with Elana Schultz once again chairing the Women’s Philanthropy campaign. Baillie Chisick and Jared Akman remain co-chairs of the young adult division. (Their terms run out at the end of December.)
“We were able to give our partner agencies more funding this year than last year,” said Goldstine. “The agencies were all very happy. We hope that we can exceed our target again this coming year.”
Teplitsky has been involved with the Jewish community as a volunteer and a professional almost since she arrived in Winnipeg with her family from Ashkelon, Israel, seven years ago. She arrived in Israel from Russia when she was 13 and had lived in Israel for 20 years. She said the family decided to move to Winnipeg because of the federation’s Grow Winnipeg initiative to increase the community’s Jewish population.
“A decade ago, I never would have thought that I would leave Israel, and I never thought that I would love any other place same way as I love Israel,” Teplitsky said. “I am amazed by Manitoba’s culture of generosity, especially among the Jewish community.”
Teplitsky has more than 15 years’ experience in managing community programs and resources in Israel and in Canada. “I have had success in my previous positions in developing strong, nurturing and beneficial relationships with the stakeholders, volunteers and community members.”
In Israel, she was involved in resource development as director of two not-for-profit organizations. “When I arrived in Winnipeg in 2009, federation was the first contact point for me,” she said.
In the last two years, Teplitsky served as a board member of the federation and took part in the Women’s Philanthropy campaign as a canvasser.
The new CJA campaign manager is also a singer and was asked to sing O Canada and Hatikvah this year for the annual Kavod Evening organized by the federation to recognize volunteer leaders in the community.
Teplitsky and Goldstine estimate there are about 4,000 Russian-speaking Israeli immigrants who’ve recently arrived in Winnipeg.
“As part of our effort to reach out to our new community members, we have conducted a few focus groups last winter, and many new immigrants showed their readiness and willingness to get more involved in the Jewish community,” Goldstine said.
“We see lots of new faces in our community, especially at the community-wide celebrations such as at Chanukah and Yom Ha’atzmaut. We are always looking for ways to welcome and engage our community members.”
The Super Sunday telethon will be followed by Super Fun Day, a family-oriented community-wide celebration in partnership with Jewish agencies.
