From a report Monday in the Jewish newspaper The Forward:

Republican voters prepared to go to the polls Tuesday in the Florida primary after a campaign in which the candidates paid scant attention to the Sunshine State's 500,000-strong Jewish community. The two leading candidates, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, spent much of their time in central and northern Florida and all but ignored the heavily Jewish communities in south Florida's Dade and Broward counties.

While Florida and its large Jewish population are expected to serve as the ultimate battleground in the presidential race, not much is in play during the GOP primary. Most of the state's Jews are Democrats and cannot vote in the GOP primary. Those who are Republican lean strongly toward Romney, analysts say.

Above photo is of Mitt Romney, left, and Newt Gingrich during a recent GOP candidates debate. (From CBS News)

This year's Birmingham Jewish Federation Annual Campaign has been fueled by the leadership and passion of Campaign Chairs Randi and Dave Landy, and Operation Grassroots, an unprecedented BJF effort to raise 1000 new gifts or increases of at least $100 to obtain a $100,000 challenge gift.

The campaign also has benefited from the involvement of next year's campaign chairs, long-time Jewish community volunteer leaders Ginger and Jerry Held. Pictured here, from left, are Ginger, Jerry, Randi and Dave at The BJF. The Helds have been helping the Landys, contacting donors for their 2012 campaign commitments.

Thanks to Jerry's efforts, one longstanding donor who initially reduced from $4200 to $4000 restored his gift to $4300 to become part of Operation Grassroots; a couple, who had been giving $13,000 the past few years, increased to $14,000; and another couple increased from $5000 to $5100 also to be part of Operation Grassroots. In addition, one other couple, after meeting with Ginger and Jerry, increased from $3600 to $7200 and additionally committed to opening a fund in The Birmingham Jewish Foundation with an initial gift of $2500.

As the Helds continue working hard to help the Landys, Ginger and Jerry remain especially excited about next year's campaign. Serving with them as their co-chairs will be their sons, Brian and Layne, daughter, Elisa, Brian's wife, Katie, and Elisa's husband, Aaron.

The two generations working together are one more reflection of The BJF's new Inter-Generational Leadership Model which pairs seasoned volunteers with younger, emerging leaders. The purpose is to provide a setting where the older volunteer leaders can mentor the younger ones and the younger ones, in turn, have an opportunity to become involved at a senior level of the Federation and put forth new ideas.

BJF Executive Director Richard Friedman has been working closely with Ginger and Jerry laying the groundwork for next year, while Daniel Odrezin, a third year University of Alabama law student who will be joining our staff in August, and Lauren Klinner, the BJF's Director of Operations, have been working with Brian, Katie, Elisa, Aaron and Layne. The entire group will begin working together once the current campaign is over.

NEW MOVEMENT

Our Inter-Generational Model is part of a new movement at The BJF known as LIFT -- Leadership Initiatives For Tomorrow. Envisioned by BJF President Jimmy Filler, goals of LIFT include doing all we can now to prepare our community for the future, including raising substantial funds through Our Next 100 Years (see below link), and providing those who will lead us in the years ahead, both at the professional and volunteer levels, with opportunities to prepare by playing major leadership roles today.

We at The BJF are excited about the Held-Nelsons coming aboard, but we are excited about the Landys as well! Randi and Dave are doing a great job. Dave is a gastroenterologist and Randi is a full-time mom and volunteer. Their daughter, Ellen, attends the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School. One of Randi and Dave's goals for the 2012 campaign was to develop and implement strategies that would provide every donor at every giving level with a chance to make an impact; hence, Operation Grassroots, which is doing just that, was born.

"We are so gratified with this year's campaign and, in particular, we thank Ginger and Jerry for their hard work and support and also thank all those wonderful donors who've already made Operation Grassroots gifts," said Randi.

"We also know that our campaign is far from over," added Dave. "Our hope is that folks who haven't given previously will give at least $100 or those who have will increase at least $100 so that we can obtain the $100,000 challenge gift that has been offered to us."

Meanwhile, the Landys themselves have introduced their own Inter-Generational Leadership Model. Eight-year-old daughter, Ellen, and several of her N.E. Miles Jewish Day School classmates were among Operation Grassroots' very first donors!

Click to make an Operation Grassroots payment.

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