Development

The Torah School of Greater Washington depends on the generous support of many members of the community to meet the challenge of providing a top notch Jewish and secular education. The resources we raise enable us to attract and retain great teachers, keep up our fantastic new facility, and provide scholarship assistance to those who cannot afford to pay full tuition. Over 90% of our families have given donations outside of tuition to the school. We also are very proud of our high volunteer participation rate, which help make our fund-raisers successful.

We have a number of opportunities for participating and giving. For information about any of the following programs, please call Rabbi Hershel Lutch, ex 2309, or email him at hlutch@tsgw.org

Annual Gala Banquet – Our banquet gives us the opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate the school as well to recognize individuals whose efforts have had a beneficial impact to the school and the broader community. With a short performance by our own Torah School Boys Choir and short but moving speeches by the honorees, our banquet sets the standard for a fun night out. Last year, over 200 members of the community came. Our next banquet will be on December 3, 2006 at Beth Shalom Synagogue in Potomac. Won’t you join us?

Chinese Auction - This year, we are having our fourth annual Chinese Auction. The Chinese Auction is really a series of raffles rather than a progressive bidding event. Raffle tickets are sold for $5, $10, and $15 and this year we will give away over 50 prize packages - including furniture, a computer, an Artscroll Shas, and many more.

The drawings take place during an evening of fun and food on February 11, 2007 at Beth Sholom Congregation in Potomac. Raffle tickets will also be sold in advance through our catalogue, which will be distributed a month before the event.

Atid – Atid means “Future” and it is a personal giving program crafted to ensure the Torah School’s future. While many people made commitments to the building fund several years ago, we still need to raise more money to pay for the ongoing expenses of our new building. Atid participants make a five year commitment of annual support. For cumulative Atid totals above $5,000, name dedications may be made on rooms in the building on an availability basis. (Atid pledges may be combined with previous pledges to the building fund for room dedications).

Sponsored Learning – A day ($180), week ($360), or month ($1,200) may be sponsored in memory of a loved one. All sponsored learning will be announced and published in our weekly newsletter.

Individual donations – The majority of our donations are given by individuals outside of the above programs. They are the lifeblood of our school’s operations and we could not function without them. When you are thinking of tzedakah, please consider the Torah School. You will be making a difference in the life of a child.

Combined Federal Campaign – If you are a federal employee, you may also make donations to the Torah School through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). The Torah School’s designation number is 7446.