MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger » Ed Yerke-Robins

The Fight Against Hunger Loses a Leader and Friend

Ed Yerke-Robins — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:32:03 +0000

Photo courtesy The Global FoodBanking Network

MAZON mourns the loss of our longtime friend and colleague Bob Forney, CEO of the Global FoodBanking Network, who died suddenly on August 29. Bob has been held in high esteem by all of us in the anti-hunger community, and he will be greatly missed. Our most sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.

Bob visited our offices in September 2009. Read more about how his philosophy influenced us on our blog.

Join us to Honor MAZON’s Founder Leonard Fein Oct. 24 in New York

Ed Yerke-Robins — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:09:54 +0000

Download the full invitation in PDF format here.

“Let us launch a Jewish campaign against hunger. Drawing on all our resources—our wealth and our wisdom, our customs and our competencies, our memories and our dreams—let us create an old/new tradition. Henceforward, as in olden times, let us set aside a portion of our joy to feed the hungry.”
Leonard Fein, Moment Magazine, April 1985

These inspirational words have fueled MAZON’s efforts for 25 years. In recognition of Leonard Fein’s remarkable influence, we are proud to announce the launch of MAZON’s Founder’s Fund and honor him with a luncheon at Central Synagogue in New York on Sunday, October 24th 2010.

“In Israel, the rates of poverty – especially for children – are even higher than they are here at home. Through the Founder’s Fund, our hope is to leverage our grant-making in Israel, encouraging both greater government and private sector commitment to ending the scandal of hunger there. We have been instrumental in launching Israel’s principal food bank, and we continue to provide both funding and counsel to the groups and agencies that are engaged with hunger there. The Founder’s Fund will help ensure that this commitment is an enduring priority of MAZON.”
Leonard Fein, July 2010

To RSVP to the luncheon, or make a donation towards the Founder’s Fund, please use this reply card (downloadable in PDF or high resolution JPEG).

Save the Date: Honoring MAZON’s Founder Leonard Fein on Oct. 24

Ed Yerke-Robins — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:23:53 +0000

Sunday, October 24th, 2010
Central Synagogue, New York, New York
Luncheon 12:30PM
Honoring MAZON’s Founder, Leonard Fein

More details to come!

Sharing Love, Sharing Justice

Ed Yerke-Robins — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:30:14 +0000

Courtesy Mark Bernstein & Carolyn Weiss

One year ago, Mark Bernstein and Carolyn Weiss shared their love for each other with friends and family at their wedding. They also shared their passion for tzedakah, encouraging their guests to give in their honor to MAZON instead of bring physical gifts. In fact, this pursuit is what brought the couple together. Here is their story, in their own words:

We met in the fall of 2008, while volunteering on the Obama campaign. As you can imagine, being united in a common purpose, we formed a bond and, over time, a friendship, which blossomed into something wonderful. Having both dated for so long, it was also nice to meet each other in an ‘organic’ way, without the pressure of dating. We were fortunate enough to get tickets for the Inauguration and, on January 20, 2009, after President Obama was inaugurated, we got engaged on the Capitol lawn. A very quick engagement for two overly analytical people, but after so many years of dating (I am 41 and Carolyn 39), we knew what we were looking for and had finally found our other half. We were married on June 21, 2009.

We share a commitment to making tzedakah (justice), tikkun olam (repair the world) and gemilut chasidim (acts of loving kindness) a part of our lives and included these tenets in our ketubah. In this spirit, we encouraged guests, in lieu of giving gifts, to give to one of a handful of charities we selected, including Mazon, and we were happy that a number of guests did so. It was also in this spirit that we decided to follow the Jewish tradition of donating 5% of our monetary wedding gifts to charity, and we wanted to donate to a Jewish charity. We knew Mazon’s reputation, and didn’t think twice about who would be the recipient of our donation. We want to thank Mazon for the great work it does on a daily basis to fight hunger.

- Mark Bernstein and Carolyn Weiss

Mark & Carolyn are proud Marylanders. Here are two of MAZON’s Maryland-based grantees their generosity (and yours!) helps support:

Garden Harvest: Garden Harvest utilizes a volunteer network of farms to teach sustainable, organic farming and animal rearing practices in impoverished rural communities such as Appalachia. These programs instill invaluable nutrition and life-skills education. At Garden Harvest’s own farms in Reisterstown, over 5,000 volunteers contribute 19,000 hours a year to harvest and deliver fresh, organic produce to soup kitchens, shelters and emergency food pantries all over Maryland. Visit their website for volunteer opportunities!
Maryland Hunger Solutions: Maryland Hunger Solutions works tirelessly to establish self-sustaining, healthy communities by removing barriers to access. They work closely with social service agencies to educate working families and maximize enrollment in federal nutrition programs and hunger solutions that already exist. They also seek to improve public policies that stop hunger and insure the nutrition, health, and well-being of children and families in Maryland. Help Maryland Hunger Solutions spread the word about existing nutrition programs and advocate for strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization bills that supports all needy families.

Courtesy Mark Bernstein & Carolyn Weiss

The merry union of these approaches is the key to a better world, where hungry children and needy families can feed themselves today and tomorrow. The marriage of Mark & Carolyn is another key, to a world full of love, compassion and justice. Thank you Mark & Carolyn, and mazel tov on your first anniversary!

Honor Dads & Grads with MAZON Tributes

Ed Yerke-Robins — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 07:00:17 +0000

Photo Courtesy Marco Kalmann (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcokalmann/)

Father’s Day is June 20th. One of our most sacred mitzvot is to honor our parents. Their labor nourishes us, their wisdom guides us, and their love nurtures us. Honor their legacy or blessed memory with a tribute donation to MAZON. Our grantees work tirelessly so that families in every community can share the opportunities our parents gave us – to feed themselves, learn and grow together.

When it comes to our own homes, there’s plenty of nachas going around at the end of the school year. Whether it’s a child, grandchild, relative, spouse or neighbor, we can’t stop kvelling at the sight of a graduate. Their heads held high, their hearts full of hope, they walk across the stage to continue a life-long journey to make the world a better place. Honor that commitment with a tribute donation to MAZON.

MAZON tributes are about the size of a standard greeting card. The front features a beautiful watercolor print, and the inside is customized with your message and signature. Unless you specifically request it, we never disclose the amount of your contribution, and include your name and return address on the envelope so your recipient knows it’s coming from you. View a sample here »

We review all tributes before printing & sending, so please allow one to three business day for processing.

Pressed for time? Want to conserve resources? Opt to email a tribute e-card. You’ll receive a copy as well, if you wish to print and hand deliver.

Acting President Barbara H. Bergen Responds to LA Times Editorial on Global Hunger

Ed Yerke-Robins — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:16:20 +0000

Courtesy Lambi Fund (http://lambifund.org)

Last week, the Los Angeles Times ran an editorial on the Obama administration’s response to the global food crisis, “The Starving Can’t Wait“. MAZON’s Acting President, Barbara H. Bergen, responded with the following letter, which also ran in the Times’ letters section yesterday:

The Times has pinpointed both the need to combat global hunger and potential remedies.

We have long acted on the premise that supporting local efforts to grow and sell foodstuffs is more effective in the long term than sending food from the United States. One of MAZON’s grantees in Haiti uses our funds to support a sustainable agriculture program. That program is designed to increase the food and economic security of peasant farmers by providing funds, seeds, tools and training and to increase the skills and knowledge of project leaders, especially women.

The result of these efforts has been improvement in economic conditions, increased availability of food, reduction in soil erosion and increased gender equity. Public and private efforts to replicate these programs have the potential to reduce world poverty and increase national and international security.

Thanks to the LA Times for their coverage of this critical issue, and for running Barbara’s response.

The grantee Barbara refers to is the Lambi Fund of Haiti. For over a decade, we have worked with them to help Haitians feed Haitians through sustainable agriculture projects and grassroots economic development. Earlier this year, we rejoined with them to rebuild after the massive Haitian earthquake. With your support, we look forward to continuing our work with them to keep providing a hand up in the long recovery.

MAZON To Receive KindredSPIRITS Award on June 13th at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Ed Yerke-Robins — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:54:59 +0000

Learn more and order your tickets at KindredSPIRITSLive.org!

KindredSPIRITS produces annual humanitarian concert events to raise significant financial contributions and awareness of select organizations. We are honored to be the beneficiary of this year’s event. Come join us Sunday, June 13th, at the beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. MAZON will receive 50% of net proceeds.

Performers are world-class Cantors Ilan Davidson, Chayim Frenkel and Ilysia Pierce. They’re joined by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, conducted by Dr. Noreen Green, and the Faithful Central Bible Church Choir, directed by Barbara A. Allen. This line-up is particularly meaningful to us, as many performers represent MAZON Partner Synagogues.

The flier and order form are below – click the images to download high-resolution versions.

Click for full poster!

Click & print to order your tickets!

Order your tickets by June 1 at KindredSPIRITSLive.org! Don’t miss out!

PB&J: A Jewish Teen Summit on Hunger

Ed Yerke-Robins — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:39:33 +0000

PB & J: A Jewish Teen Summit on Hunger
Washington, DC
June 24 – 28, 2010
Tuition is $150 and includes all program costs.

Register online at BBYO’s website.
Questions? Contact BBYO’s Mikah Goldman.

Seattle Bar Mitzvah Project Raises $2200 to Fight Hunger

Ed Yerke-Robins — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:04:06 +0000

Justin Coskey and sister Rachel prepare a meal to share with their community. Photo courtesy Gail Coskey.

There’s nothing heartier than a home-cooked meal – especially when the heart of that meal is hunger relief! Earlier this year, Justin Coskey of Seattle, WA, organized a spaghetti dinner as part of his Bar Mitzvah project at MAZON partner synagogue, Congregation Beth Shalom. In the finest Jewish tradition, everyone in the community took part. Family helped cook, friends exchanged good wishes in advance of Justin’s Bar Mitzvah, and all enjoyed a wonderful evening.

The “price” for such fine dining was a donation to MAZON, of whatever amount one wished. In all, 118 people came to dinner, and Justin made 32 pounds of pasta, 15 loaves of garlic bread, 6 salad tubs and 200 cookies! At the end of the night, Justin and his family donated the leftover food to locals at risk of hunger, and collected a whopping $2,224.81 for hunger relief, including $563.91 for our Emergency Haiti Relief Fund. That’s amore – and tzedakah! Here’s Justin’s dinner speech:

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King was a very inspirational man. He was a strong leader, standing up for what was right. A few months ago, I was asked what I wanted to do for my Bar Mitzvah project. When I learned that every 1 in 6 people suffers from hunger, I knew what cause I wanted to help. After viewing some different organizations, I wanted to donate to MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.

Founded in 1985, Mazon’s core belief is that in a world of plenty, hunger should not exist. MAZON donates all of its profits to different organizations primarily in the United States, but also in Israel and other International places.

Recently in Haiti, there was a giant 7.0 earthquake, causing death and poverty throughout the country. Haiti was already an extremely poor country, and their situation went from bad to worse. MAZON, recognizing the need for help, set up an emergency Haiti fund, which was one of the two options of where you could donate to in the lobby.

Thank you all so much for coming, and fulfilling the mitzvah of Ma’Achil Re’evim, feeding the hungry, so that we can make a difference. Thank you.

We echo those closing words. Thank you, Justin. You’ve already gone from boyhood to menschhood! Your generosity enables us to support hunger relief, nutrition assistance and advocacy programs in Seattle, across the country and around the world.

Justin Coskey educates family and friends about hunger relief as part of his Bar Mitzvah Project. Photo courtesy Peter Mark.

As another element of his Bar Mitzvah project, Justin shared what he learned about our Seattle-area grantees with his synagogue’s Social Action Committee. This includes the following hunger fighters:

Jewish Family Service – Their newly-renovated Polack Food Bank stores and delivers 240,000 pounds of food and toiletries annually. This cut warehouse and transportation costs, and enabled “Consumer Choice”, a distribution model where clients browse and select foods that best fit their household. This increased efficiency is vital, as need continues to grow – over a thousand low-income families visit monthly, and volunteers home deliver to 400 disabled adults and seniors in Downtown Seattle and the Madison Valley. Check out JFS’ pictures of the new facility and opening ceremony last month!
Food Lifeline – Rescues millions of pounds of food annually from food industry, grocery stores, local restaurants, and farmers. This sustains 300 emergency food programs in Western Washington, including JFS’ Polack Food Bank. Ultimately, Food Lifeline provides nearly 19 million meals a year to working families and hungry people. Food Lifeline also researches and delivers hunger statistics for Washington State in its “Missing Meals” report.
Children’s Alliance Food Policy Center – Ensures Washington state laws, policies and programs work to end childhood hunger and fight childhood obesity.
Asian Counseling & Referral Service – The ACRS Food Bank addresses a key challenge food banks and pantries face: what if your clientele don’t know how to cook your foods? The ACRS provides staple foods for low-income, elderly and disabled Asian-American and Pacific Islanders, in addition to nutrition consultation in dozens of languages. They’ve lent a photo-set on our Flickr feed, and area residents should mark their calendars for the 20th Annual Walk for Rice fundraiser this June!
Lifelong AIDS Alliance – Every week, Lifelong’s Chicken Soup Brigade prepares meals and delivers groceries to hundreds living with HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging illnesses and disabilities. Each month, they also host a social meal with clients and staff members to build relationships and community. Because health and nutrition needs are often in flux, Lifelong provides specialized nutrition counseling to balance medication side effects, maintain immune systems and manage proper weight.

Want to make a difference for hungry people at your Bar/Bat Mitzvah? Contact Rosalie Licht or set up a fundraising page at Firstgiving!

White House: Child Hunger & Obesity “Is An Epidemic”

Ed Yerke-Robins — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:41:21 +0000

Courtesy Flickr user another sergio (http://flickr.com/photos/sergio94707/)

As we ask The 5th Question at our home seders, and further educate ourselves at Child Nutrition Seders across the country, we find incredible support from the current administration as we strive to end child hunger.

Last month, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke at a National Press Club Luncheon, where he reiterated that Child Nutrition Reauthorization is vital to education, economic strength and national security. Here are selected quotes:

You might be shocked to learn that in 2008, 16.7 million American children lived in households that had difficulty putting enough food on the table. And in over 500,000 households, children skipped meals or ate less than they needed because of a lack of resources. At the same time nearly one third of all children in America are obese or over-weight. This is an epidemic.

Ask any teacher how students who fail to eat a healthy breakfast or lunch perform in class. Hungry kids don’t learn as well. … If we want and need our children fully prepared for a competitive world and global economy we cannot afford for them to be hungry.

Children who start out life obese have greater struggles with their weight in later years. … The medical costs of obesity are enormous – approximately 10% of our nation’s health care spending – and we cannot let them continue to grow at a time when we must reduce health care costs to remain competitive.

A recent report showed that 75 percent of adults age 17-24 are not physically fit for military service. Because of the troubling trends, a coalition of retired generals and admirals has formed to advocate for a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill. I thank them for their leadership and welcome their efforts to promote this important legislative initiative.

Secretary Vilsack’s entire speech can be viewed at National Press Club Online. A transcript is available from the US Department of Agriculture.

Last week, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to Newsweek about the child obesity epidemic and her “Let’s Move!” program. Proclaiming that “the real work [to end child obesity] happens on the ground,” the First Lady explained that “Let’s Move!” is unconcerned with regulating or taxing unhealthy foods. Rather, the program aims to support communities, schools and families in providing access to affordable, healthy foods and expanding exercise efforts.

These goals bear a telling message: with unprecedented White House support, we will stop the epidemic and insure that kids all over the country can eat healthy. Call, write, email or tweet your representatives TODAY and tell them you support Child Nutrition Reauthorization (here are some advocacy tips). Donate to MAZON, and sustain food banks, pantries and backpack programs that fill in the gaps for hungry children and working families.

Now is the time. We will end child hunger by 2015.