_{Phoenix Philanthropists Achieve Record High 2020 Campaign}

Phoenix, AZ: December 8, 2020 – Jewish National Fund-USA’s (JNF-USA) Phoenix leadership are pleased to announce the organization has surpassed its annual fundraising target, contributing a record $10 million towards a total of $100 million in funds raised nationally as the campaign prepares for an even bigger 2021.

“With everything happening in our world today, our community continues to stand with Israel, just as we always have and always will,” said JNF-USA Desert States Board President, Kim Kotzin. “Our Arizona campaign had the strongest year in JNF Arizona history. However, our main goal goes beyond raising money. Rather, we are driven and motivated by our historic vision for Israel’s Negev and Galilee. Thanks to our local community, we can do even more to help children with disabilities, families looking for affordable housing, critical environmental research & development, and so much more.”

Image: JNF-USA Desert States Board President, Kim Kotzin, pictured with husband Lynton

News of JNF-USA’s record fundraising year follows a previous announcement that it had surpassed the $704 million mark of its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade Initiative – a figure that now stands at $738 million.

JNF-USA continues to develop Israel’s Negev Desert and Galilee with dozens of major projects underway including:

• $300 million JNF Israel Education and Technology Campus – A narrative-changing initiative that will revolutionize global Jewish education; place Israel at the center of Jewish learning; and inspire a new generation to engage with their Jewish and Zionist past, present, and future connection to Israel and the Jewish people
• $20 million Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF – With the Rosenfield School of Culinary Arts on the Marvin Sukonik Campus, GCI by JNF will become the number one culinary school in the world, leveraging Israel’s 80+ unique cultures to create a truly world class institution
• 1,700 housing development sites – Enabling thousands of families to pursue the Zionist dream in the Negev and Galilee by creating the infrastructure needed to enable new housing development
• Supporting Israel’s firefighters – Providing critical firefighting equipment and Rapid Action Fire Vehicles to Israel’s volunteer firefighters, enabling them to protect lives and property more effectively than ever before.

Kotzin continued: “I believe our local community in Arizona shares a special affinity with Israel, given the similar challenges and opportunities that our two regions face relating to the environment, weather, and agriculture R&D. People also give to JNF-USA because their gift is used in a way that maximizes its philanthropic impact. As an organization that has been around for 120 years, new donors continue to be drawn to our historic accomplishments, yet, they are equally inspired by our bold plans for the future.”

JNF-USA has supported the people of Israel throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic. Just days after the first cases were recorded in Israel, JNF-USA was already working with its affiliates to address their immediate needs. Examples of support included:

• Providing laptops to children with disabilities so they could continue to receive therapy online
• Food and medicine for elderly Israelis who were unable to travel to local supermarkets and pharmacies
• Supporting out-of-work Israeli tour guides through a virtual tours initiative
• Helping small businesses that relied on tourist traffic in the Negev and Galilee by establishing an Online Mitzvah Market Place, enabling American consumers to purchase Israeli products.

For more information on JNF-USA’s work in Israel contact Associate Director, Arizona, Audrey Lewis at alewis@jnf.org or 480.447.8100 x981.

ENDS

Contact:

Media enquiries: Stefan Oberman, JNF-USA Director of Communications. E: soberman@jnf.org.

P: 212.879.9305 x222

About Jewish National Fund-USA

JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation.