American-Israeli businesswoman, philanthropist and founder of the International Good Deeds Day network, Shari Arison will attend this year’s local Good Deeds Day occurring on March 10, 2013. Her appearance will highlight the incredible work of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and its commitment to volunteerism through the annual Good Deeds Day event, which has become the second largest of these events outside of Israel, second only to New York City. With projected participation of 3,000 local residents throughout the metropolitan DC area, Good Deeds Day has ignited over 88 projects around the city and its surrounds. The event will be one of the largest efforts of this kind seen in the area, at which the Israeli ambassador is also invited to attend.
The various volunteer projects will be spread across a vast metro DC area, from College Park, Maryland to Leesburg, Virginia, with the main highlighted event being open to the media and held in the heart of the District at the DCJCC. Attending this event will be community volunteers of all ages, including Arison herself (11 a.m. through 12noon), who will be on-site thanking volunteers while also attempting to beat a sandwich-making world record. The event, taking place from 10 am to 1 pm, will enlist participants to have fun while “breaking bread” and creating lunch boxes for the area’s underserved in an effort to assist in the fight against hunger locally.
Arison, well-known for being one of the Top 10 Billionaires in the Middle East and #288 on the worldwide Forbes’ Billionaires List is, not surprisingly, one of the most influential women in the world and has been dubbed one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in the Middle East. Arison is the owner of Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank. She is the founder of the Arison Group, a global investment and philanthropic unit, and is the daughter of Ted Arison, founder of Carnival Cruise Lines. Arison founded Good Deeds Day in 2007 to work as a simultaneous global celebration of volunteerism via her nonprofit organization Ruach Tova.
WHERE: DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
*Registration available now at www.GoodDeedsDayGW.org.
“Every year, Good Deeds Day enables hundreds of thousands of people to experience the pleasure of doing something good for others and discover that in many cases, it’s really easy to help. As more people take part and come out to do a good deed, the circles of good grow.” says Arison.
"We are so honored to have Shari make a special trip to be part of our Good Deeds Day. This day is important to our community, and helps us empower the city with the nutrients it needs,” DC co-chair of Good Deeds Day Inna Dexter said. “We would not be here without Shari’s vision and generous support. We are looking forward to thanking her in person on behalf of the volunteers, and on behalf of the countless people whom this day has helped.”
More information on the day can be found at GoodDeedsDayGW.org as well as a comprehensive list of where and how to volunteer for all available events spanning DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland. There is something for everyone from preparing and serving hot lunches to the homeless at the So Others Might Eat event to attending a “Senior Prom” at the Jewish Council for the Aging; and from pre-planting at the Common Good Farm to helping adopt out dogs at the Lost Dog Rescue, and many more—whether you are coming alone, with friends or as a family.
March 5, 2013
