Zachary S- Helping Those Struggling With Addiction

Thank you for taking the time to visit my Mightycause Page.

My name is Zachary Schanker and this is my third year as part of the Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF), a program in which teens come together as philanthropists to support a population in our communities and around the globe. In my time in JTF, I have learned all about the world of philanthropy and how I can exemplify the value of Tikkun Olam, the idea that I should leave the world a better place than I found it. In my two years on the leadership council, I have helped the board come together to create as large of an impact on the world as we can.

The JTF South Board’s Mission Statement for this year is: The Jewish Teen Foundation South Board is committed to supporting those affected by substance addiction through organizations/initiatives that provide education and rehabilitation services to create and sustain positive change for individuals and families.

Why did we choose to focus on individuals struggling with addiction?

One value I kept thinking about through the consensus process was self-sustainability. Addiction is an issue where the goal is not to provide temporary support, but rather help a person get back onto their feet and allow them to regain control of their life. This way, our impact reaches far beyond one single act.

Some shocking statistics I learned:

• In 2022, 20.4 million people were diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD)
• Despite this, only 10.3% of people with SUD received any treatment

(Statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a government organization)

Addiction is something that can take away your entire life in one fell swoop. Your physical health, your emotional health, any relationships with your friends or family, and your ability to go to school or work. 

Addiction is not something that someone can overcome in a day. It is a battle, but it is made that much easier, that much more possible, when you have support from people around you.

This is where you can help. Join us with a donation today! Every dollar will aid our efforts in helping those struggling with addiction and decrease the amount of people battling this illness all together. Thank you so much for donating and learning more about the issues individuals struggling with addiction face.

The fundraising deadline is April 10th. If you have any additional questions or want to learn more, please email me at zschanker@gmail.com