In 1996, 10 couples who were passionate about supporting our Federation’s UJA Annual Campaign, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) and other causes in our community had the foresight to create a fund to both support the Annual Campaign and to bring the community together through music.
Thanks to the support of the Annual Campaign by the UJA Benefit Concert Supporting Foundation, Federation feeds the hungry, strengthens Jewish community, and responds to crises, both here and abroad.
For its first 18 years, the UJA Benefit Concert Supporting Foundation enriched Greater MetroWest by honoring members of our community through fundraiser concerts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, bringing the world-class music of the NJSO, culture, and joy to our community while raising vital funds to support the Annual Campaign.
Honoring most generous philanthropists including Rita & Jerry Waldor z”l, Milly & Herb Iris z”l, Leon and Toby Cooperman, Paula and Jerry z”l Gottesman, Judy and Stewart Colton, Judy z”l and Joshua Weston, among others, the concerts raised more than $4 million for the UJA Annual Campaign.
More than 1,400 people attended the farewell concert, including 350 seniors as special guests. In fact, over the years, close to 6,000 seniors have attended as guests to enjoy a festive evening featuring the NJSO and world-class guest artists. The UJA Benefit Concert Supporting Foundation has really brought our community together through music and culture.
In recent years, The UJA Benefit Concert Supporting Foundation transitioned from fundraisers at NJPAC to community concerts at local agencies.
Students, faculty, and families from all four of our Jewish day schools, Federation’s annual meeting participants, seniors from Jewish Community Housing Corporation, and JCC of MetroWest community members, among others, have greatly enjoyed these performances and the opportunity to come together as a community. The UJA Benefit Supporting Foundations grants $52,000 to the UJA Annual Campaign and $52,000 to NJSO each year.
In honor of the Centennial milestone this year for both the Federation and the NJSO, the trustees of the UJA Benefit Supporting Foundation made two extraordinary one-time $100,000 sponsorship gifts to each to our Federation and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO)– above and beyond the annual concert support. These gifts are a deeply meaningful way to celebrate the 100th anniversary and the deep history of both organizations.
As sponsors of the Federation’s Centennial, the UJA Benefit Concert Supporting Foundation is supporting the exciting events and engagement opportunities during our 100th year. The high-profile launch of our Centennial, the Centennial Mission, will transform the lives of the participants so that they, in turn, can our community for generations to come.
