Chabad Group Chases $1 Million

by Tamar Snyder, Jewish Week

Rabbi Levi Shemtov and his wife, Bassie, are no strangers to using social media to rally friends near and far to vote for their charity online.

In November, the Michigan-based Chabad couple was chosen as finalists in the Jewish Federations of North America’s “Jewish Community Heroes” Award, netting them $1,000.

Now, as they approach the final round in the Chase Community Giving Challenge on Facebook, the stakes have increased — with a whopping $1 million prize from the bank on the line.

The Shemtovs founded Friendship Circle, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs, in 1994. Since then, the grassroots organization has grown to more than 80 branches worldwide.

After garnering thousands of votes, Friendship Circle was voted one of Chase’s “Top 100 Charities” — making it the only Jewish charity to have that honor, and netting the charity $25,000.

For the second and final round, each of the 100 charities were asked to upload a video explaining their “big idea” and how they plan to use the prize money. Beginning on Jan. 15, Facebook users will vote for the single charity that will receive $1 million from Chase.

To encourage votes, the Shemtovs have set up a Web site, www.voteFC.com, where people can sign up to receive a text message or email reminding them to vote for Friendship Circle.

Five years ago, the couple raised $5 million to build a 23,000-square-foot building in Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield furnished with eight therapy rooms, including a sand room.

The building also houses Weinberg Village, a true-to-life indoor city that helps children with special needs gain important life skills. Children are given an allowance that can be used to get a manicure at the salon, buy a snack at the store, or visit the movie theater.

The village also features a bank, medical and dental office, library, and pet shop. Each year, more than 3,000 students with special needs from public and private schools visit Weinberg Village.

The Shemtovs would like to use the $1 million prize to double the size of the village, which will increase the capacity from 60 students at a time to 100.

Adding a copy center, clothing store and pizza parlor will also allow Friendship Circle to train adult volunteers with special needs to gain employment in these areas.

With the remaining prize money, the Shemtovs would like to develop educational materials to transform their 11,000 volunteers into ambassadors for acceptance of people with special needs.

The contest ends Jan. 22, a Friday, at midnight. “We lose 30 hours in the campaign,” says Rabbi Shemtov.

Get involved and spread the word, visit voteFC.com