Let’s come together to create a Family Fund for Hanukah!

Why create a family Hanukah Fund?
Let's face it. We've all got too much stuff. And there are lots of families who don't have even basic things -- like food, or new shoes for their kids, or a secure job. So, instead of exchanging gifts this year I thought we could pool our resources and establish a meaningful, enduring fund -- we could name it the Stein-Kessler Family Hanukah Fund -- and we could really create a Hanukah miracle for some families in need this year.

What Would the Stein-Kessler Family Hanukah Fund Do?
Our Hanukah Fund will provide food, clothing and toys for children in need------not only at the holidays and year round.

But isn't Hanukah for children?
That's the point. I've read that children learn best by what their parents DO; not by what they SAY. If we simply tell them about tzedakah, but don't really put it into action, what do we teach them? By coming together to create the Stein-Kessler Family Hanukah Fund we'll be doing a real mitzvah, not just for the children who will benefit directly from the Fund, but also for our own kids who will see how great it can be to make a gift that keeps on giving. It's a way to teach our children how lucky they are -- as they're sitting at the table eating latkes and playing dreidel -- and that they are helping to spread the warm light of Hanukah to other children who may not even have warm beds and anything good to eat.

Why create our Family Fund at JFCS?
JFCS makes it easy. We only need $2,500 to set up a permanent endowed fund. There's very little paperwork involved, and our gifts are tax deductible. They'll report to us every year to tell us how the income from our Fund was used to directly help families in need, and we can share the stories with our kids. And we can even put a page about our Fund up on their website (To see some examples, click here).

And JFCS even helped me set up these PledgePage website pages to contact all our mishpocha. It's really pretty cool!

Why choose JFCS as a vehicle for our family tzedakah?
Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma counties is a comprehensive -- cradle to rocking chair -- family resource that has helped the needy among us since 1850. They're our community's safety net. They're responsible, committed, caring professionals. And they've also demonstrated strong fiscal management, having received the highest 4-star rating giving by Charity Navigator, an independent watchdog organization.

What's our goal?
Let's raise at least $2,500 from the extended Stein-Kessler family and start our Fund this Hanukah. Since there are five families on both sides, that works out to only $250 per family. JFCS also has a one-to-one challenge grant if we reach the $2,500 minimum, so we can DOUBLE the good our Fund will do!

What we pledge
Marty and I -- together with our sons, Simon, Josh and Joel -- pledge $500. $75 comes directly from money Simon got for his bar mitzvah last year and Josh and Joel are each giving $25 from their piggybanks.

How you can join in, using the other pages on this Web Site
Click on the following pages to make your pledge, make comments, read what other family members have to say, and see some current photos of our family:

• Diary Page - This is where I've written about the history and progress of this project


• Photos Page - Where I've posted some recent shots of our clan. Please send me your photos (with captions) to post so we can all enjoy


• Contributors Page - Lists all the family members who have contributed so far.


• Guest Book Page - Read what other family members have to say about this project (and add your own two cents worth!)


• Stats Page - This page keeps track of our progress towards raising the $2500 we need to get the Fund started (Just ignore the training and website sections)


• Links Page - Go here to learn more about Named Continuity Funds and read stories about children and families JFCS has helped. This is the kind of impact our fund could have.


• Donate Page - Making your contribution to the Stein-Kessler Family Hanukah Fund is easy. Just click on my Donate link to learn how.


• Login - Takes me to the PledgePage login page to edit my pages (You can just ignore this!)

Let's all pull together and make this happen!

Love You All,
Miriam