New York JNF Campaign Executive Hailed as Rising Star by National Magazine

Contact: Jodi Bodner • JNF Director of Communications • 212-879-9305 ext. 221 • jbodner@jnf.org

January 27, 2009 -- New York, NY -- Jewish National Fund (JNF) is proud to announce that Campaign Executive Gabrielle Carlin has been chosen by Fundraising Success Magazine as one of six national “Rising Stars” in the non-profit fundraising community.

Carlin, who came to the Greater New York zone office of JNF a mere two years ago, has been especially influential in building up JNFuture, JNF’s campaign to attract the twenty- and thirty-something set to the organization and involve them in JNF activities.

“This has been quite a year for Gabrielle,” said JNF Greater New York Zone Director, Michael Feinman. “Last July she also won JNF's Campaign Executive of the Year. Winning two awards in one year for her outstanding development work proves that Gabrielle was born with the drive and confidence to be a superb fundraising professional.”

The 107-year-old JNF is “the caretaker of the land of Israel.” Throughout its history, JNF has planted more than 240 million trees, built over 200 dams and reservoirs, developed 250,000 acres of land, created more than 1,000 parks throughout Israel, and educated students around the world about Israel and the environment.

“I am incredibly surprised to have been chosen as a Rising Star in the fundraising world,” Carlin said. “I am truly honored and humbled.”

Carlin, a New Jersey native, graduate of SUNY Binghamton and now in a graduate program at Baruch College, had always wanted to do something with her life that would bring change to the world. She found that at JNF.

Since her arrival on the JNF scene from a job at the non-profit Supportive Housing Network of New York, JNFuture has been transformed from a dream to a roaring reality. It began as a small group of young New Yorkers wanting to make a difference, but quickly expanded to Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Denver and is now gearing up to go worldwide. The program has held three major events since its launch a year ago, and its rapid growth, says Carlin, “has proven that Jewish National Fund remains extremely relevant to young people who care about Israel, the environment, and benefiting the world — even after more than a century of existence.”

Winners in the Fundraising Success Magazine contest will all officially be announced in the February issue of the magazine.

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JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. JNF gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.

JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. We strive to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism.

JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers.

For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.