JPhilanthropy.com :: Resources :: Bar Mitzvah project helps kick AIDS

PROVIDENCE — For his bar mitzvah project, Micah Wisen, an eighth-grader at the Jewish Community Day School (JCDS), organized a fundraising project to help the fight against AIDS. He volunteered as the leader of his middle school for an organization called KickAids, a fundraising and awareness campaign designed by Grassroot Soccer. The latter, a non-profit organization, helps educate African children about AIDS through their role models: soccer players.

Micah was introduced to the program when the representative of the KickAids New England chapter, Jessika Scogland, came to speak to the middle school about their volunteer programs. A soccer player himself, Micah was attracted to the idea of using the sport to help children fight AIDS.

He decided to make it his belated bar mitzvah project, and, along with classmates, Gabbi Winschenk, twins Jeremy and Gregory Harlam, and Zachary Page, he eventually managed to raise about $3,000. Still, it was a group effort, as the five of them sold ribbons in school, appealed to family and friends, and even attempted the door-to-door technique. Soon the whole JCDS middle school was involved in the project as students and teachers donated money in exchange for the red ribbons.

The boys needed only two days to raise the first $1,000. The twin brothers had already gained some experience from their own bar mitzvah project, when they raised and donated $400 to a breast-cancer fund and $350 (each) to the Bnei Tzedek fund in Israel. They were more than happy to help Micah with his project.

As Gregory said: “I think it’s awesome because the whole class has been interested in AIDS, and this is the first time we actually raised money to help.”

Though they were confident, Micah and his friends did not expect such success; “Our goal was [to raise] $1,000, and we reached [about] $3,000!”

The project required Micah to sacrifice a full year’s allowance, but the experience gave meaning to his bar mitzvah celebration, and taught him a few adult lessons.

“It basically showed me that I can [lead] something this big all by myself... one person can make a big difference.”

Nava Winkler is an intern at the Jewish Voice & Herald and a senior at The Met School in Providence.