NPJTF 2017-2018 - Kayla Wagonfeld

This year I have the privilege to serve on the Leadership Council of the North Peninsula Jewish Teen Foundation board. The NPJTF is a group of twenty-four teens who are passionate about fundraising and then allocating grants to high-impact non-profit organizations, both Jewish and secular. Due to my passion for helping others, this year I stepped up and now am leading our board in learning about effective philanthropy, topical issues in communities around the world, how to be powerful leaders, and how to collaborate with others to reach consensus.  Not only do I value learning about how to be a good philanthropist and leading others to do so, but I also care a lot about giving back to the world, and I feel morally inclined to help facilitate the opportunities I have in the lives of others. 

THE 2017-2018 NPJTF AIMS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE BY PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY BY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS LOCALLY, GLOBALLY, AND IN ISRAEL. 

This issue is tremendously important to me not only because I care deeply about natural places, but also because I know that recent natural disasters have left many without their homes or belongings and I feel the need to help them as much as I can. 

As of September 5, 2017, Hurricane Harvey damaged 203,000 homes, of which 12,700 were destroyed. There were 738,000 people who registered for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency has paid $378 million to them. 

In Sonoma County’s recent wildfires 6,600 structures were destroyed, including 5,130 homes. 

2.2 billion tons of waste are dumped into the ocean every year, affecting both oceanic ecosystems and poisoning the food we eat.

These are  massive numbers, and through donations to non-profit organizations, our board hopes to help people locally, globally and in Israel recover from environmental wreckage.

This year, our group goal is to raise $62,000, including each board member’s personal donation of $100. I hope to raise $3,000 personally. Any amount is helpful, and all contributions are tax-deductible. All funds will go directly toward inspiring nonprofits that have been well-researched and consciously and carefully chosen by our board members. By donating you are funding communities locally, globally, and in Israel; as well as supporting our education about philanthropy and teen leadership. We would really appreciate if all donations were made by our deadline of April 19th. 

Thank you so much!