March 4, 2004
Hello, Israel Calling
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Phones will be ringing in at least 5,000 Jewish homes around Orange County on March 14, when volunteers pitch in to help raise money for O.C.'s Jewish Federation, the umbrella fundraising organization that helps support a dozen Jewish agencies.
This year, though, Super Sunday dialing will be divvied up between about 75 local volunteers punching numbers in the morning from the Costa Mesa campus and Israelis, who will take the afternoon shift from across several time zones.
"It's very special to get a call from Israel," said Marc Miller, who is campaign chair for the Federation, which develops programs to foster ties between Israel and the U.S. Jewish community. "I think it will change the dynamic of conversation."
"There is a substantial cost savings between using the Israel call center and renting extra lines for the Federation," campaign director Alissa Duel said. Several other federations have also tapped the call center provided by the IDC Corp., which is based in Newark, N.J. The 14-year-old company provides international phone service at a flat rate.
"Here's an innovative way to build bonds with Israel" and give support to its ailing economy, Miller said.
Miller's fundraising goal is to surpass last year's record $2.25 million Federation campaign by 10 percent.
