November 13, 2006

(Palo Alto, CA) – Once a year, just for a day, 1,000 Bay Area volunteers come together to build a community based on compassion and justice. In just 12 hours on Sunday, November 19, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from two locations -- the South Peninsula and San Francisco -- 10,000 current and prospective donors will be asked for their support in Campaign 2007. Well into a quarter century of helping the community, Super Sunday is the largest single-day fund-raising event in the Bay Area and is sponsored by The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.

This year, Super Sunday organizers hope to top last year’s pledges of $2.8 million, as well as raise support for the Federation’s Israel Emergency Campaign to help Israel revitalize after the conflict with Lebanon. Super Sunday marks the official kick-off of the Federation’s Annual Campaign, which raised $24.6 million in 2006. Donations made through the Campaign go to support over 60 charitable agencies and programs in the Bay Area, as well as in Israel and around the world wherever there are Jews in need. The funds ensure that those in need receive the services to live full lives with dignity, make it possible for many to experience Jewish life and culture and help to ensure that the Jewish voice is heard.

Donations made to the Israel Emergency Campaign go to help rebuild and revitalize Northern Israel. The funds will help rebuild schools, help children and families deal with the post-traumatic effects of living with the conflict and much more.

This year, Super Sunday will be held in two locations: at Kehiliah Jewish High School in Palo Alto and at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. Holding this event on the Peninsula was reinstituted this year (Super Sunday was held in two locations from 1983 to 2002) in response to the growing Jewish population and community dedication that has been taking place in that region. .

Long-time dedicated Federation volunteers Sherry Solden and Jacqueline Bocian will provide the vision, direction and leadership for the day in Palo Alto as Super Sunday co-chairs.

Sherry has chaired the South Peninsula Super Sunday a number of times. As a Federation Fellow (a leadership training program for young adults), she selected South Peninsula Hebrew Day School for hands-on board training and is now serving her third year as president of the school. Sherry is also very active at Congregation Kol Emeth, including torah reading and as past treasurer. 
 
Jacqueline has chaired the South Peninsula Super Sunday twice. She is recognized as a founder of the Mid-Peninsula Jewish Day School (now Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School) and most recently, of Kehillah Jewish High School. Her efforts have helped transform Jewish day school education in the Bay Area. Jackie is a strong Federation advocate, a supporter of the Jewish Study Network and of Chabad, as well as a room parent at South Peninsula Hebrew Day School. She is the mother of four day school-educated children and an active member of Congregation Kol Emeth.

Sherry comments on bringing Super Sunday back to the South Peninsula, “We are excited about bringing Super Sunday back to the South Peninsula!  Holding it at Kehillah High is a testament to the continual growth of the region. The more the community is involved, the greater we will be able to reach out and help those in need.” Jackie adds, “"As founder of Kehillah Jewish High School, I am thrilled to speak on behalf of the school as we prepare to host Super Sunday this year.  We extend a warm welcome to our marvelous Jewish Community Federation and its many volunteers.  How wonderful that Super Sunday has returned to the Peninsula - most fitting in light of our growing and increasingly involved Jewish Community. I hope for an outstanding turnout as we prepare to support the Jewish Community Federation in its remarkable work."

The Jewish Community Federation is the central organization for fundraising, planning, outreach and leadership development for Jewish communities in San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Marin and Sonoma counties. In fiscal year 2006, the Federation’s annual campaign allocated $18.3 million to some 60 agencies providing social services, educational and cultural programs in the Bay Area, in the U.S., Israel and elsewhere in the world. In fiscal year 2006, the Federation’s Endowment Fund, with assets exceeding $1.8 billion, provided more than $203 million for a variety of grants, seed projects and emergency needs. For more information, call 415.777.0411 or visit www.sfjcf.org.