Campaign record set

By Paul Haist

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The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's recently concluded 2005-06 Annual Campaign set a revenue record.
The final tabulation of pledges and gifts to the campaign totaled $4,093,759. That makes the just concluded campaign the second consecutive campaign in which total revenue exceed $4 million. This new total was marginally ahead of the previous campaign total.
In addition to this year's Annual Campaign, JFGP donors also contributed $86,000 to a special fund for Hurricane Katrina relief, placing the total annual gift to the federation well ahead of the previous year.
"I believe Portland can be very proud of what it's doing," said Priscilla Kostiner, who, as the JFGP chair of financial resource development, headed
the latest Annual Campaign. "I am just overwhelmed that we've done so well."

She noted that the campaign growth occurred in a year when additional significant demands were made on the community, specifically the Mittleman Jewish Community Center's capital campaign.
Kostiner credited campaign volunteers for helping to make the campaign a success. She singled out the 2004-05 campaign chair, Steven Kahn, for special mention.
"Steven Kahn set the bar really high and, in a sense, challenged the community by asking, 'Can you do better than this?'"
She also mentioned Alan Miller and Stan Marcus.
"Stan and Alan were very hard-working solicitors," said Kostiner. "They're my role models, like the Everyready battery; they just keep going. Let us all learn from them."
Kostiner also praised Jason Kaufman who headed last year's Super Sunday, the annual telethon that is part of the Annual Campaign.
"Our Super Sunday was fantastic," said Kostiner. "Jason did a wonderful job."
The level of volunteer effort was especially satisfying, she said.
I think it was very gratifying to the staff to see people take part. People have wanted to get involved and that is exciting."
In addition to the many volunteers, Kostiner credited the federation staff.
"We have a small staff with tremendous responsibility," she said. "These are very hard working people who have worked above and beyond the call, putting in some very long hours."
Kostiner noted that no federation in the country has key staff who have been in place as long as those at the Portland federation, a fact that she said contributes to communal understanding and continuity of effort.
Federation Campain Director Laurie Rogoway praised Kostiner.
"Priscilla is the best of the best, a consummate leader who brings a multiplicity of skills to the job," said Rogoway. "Most of all is her desire to be inclusive and make sure everyone has a place at the table. She knows that fund raising is about people. She has asked them to come forward and they have said yes."
Kostiner is a past president of the federation who also has held major national posts in Jewish communal service including national chair of the United Jewish Communities' Partnership 2000.