One of the benefits of being affiliated with FJMC international (FJMC) is being part of a global network of Men’s Clubs, Brotherhoods and individual members that are happy to share their successful programming ideas with other Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods. Many of these award winning programs were on display at the 2025 FJMC International Biennial Convention “Program Fair”, an opportunity for Convention delegates to learn about outstanding, award winning programming initiatives and interact one-on-one with the very FJMC members who designed and championed those very programs.
In the spirit of the Biennial FJMC Programming Fair, this post is part of a continuing “Spotlight On” series that will share information about creative, engaging, low-cost and highly effective club programming ideas that can easily be easily replicated by any Florida Region Men’s Club or Brotherhood.
Jake Sheff, President of the Congregation Neveh Shalom (CNS) Men’s Club of Portland Oregon recently organized a successful “Men’s Club 5K Walk / Run Fundraiser to support the Neveh Shalom Food Pantry”. Neveh Shalom Men’s Club 2025-2026 Vice President of Programming Mitch Elovitz shared details of the event:
“I am happy to share that yesterday, the CNS Men’s Club held its 1st Annual 5k walk/run fundraiser on behalf of the Congregation Neveh Shalom Food Pantry, and not only was the event itself incredible, but we raised a tremendous amount of money to fight against hunger and food insecurity. You might be wondering, What’s a tremendous amount? With the help of our 54 participants (35 in person, 19 virtual), 17 volunteers and 15 generous donors who made pledges on behalf of participants, we raised (after expenses) over $2800! You’d be surprised what a food pantry can do with a buck. But what can it do with over 2800 of them? According to our friends at Food Bank News, Business Insider and the Annual Report of the Bollard Food Bank, $2,800 can be turned into 22,400 meals by the average food bank. In real terms, that means we raised enough to feed 267 families of four three meals a day for an entire week! Alternatively, it’s enough to serve 67 families of four every meal for an entire month. That is phenomenal work! Today, we’re experiencing a different kind of runner’s high—the kind one must get from “running a run,” so to speak. Yesterday’s event could not have turned out better. We had a diverse group of participants and volunteers in a gorgeous park on a perfect August morning, and it was all to grow stronger, live longer and defeat hunger together. (The event’s slogan: “Let’s move our feet to defeat hunger!”) It might also be worth noting that with this single two-hour event, we achieved all five elements of happiness (sometimes referred to as the five pillars of a good life) according to Carl Jung: good health, good relations, seeing beauty in nature, satisfactory work and a resilience-building religious outlook. I’m so proud to be the president of a Jewish Men’s Club that does so much good for its community. And I’m inexpressibly thankful to everyone who made the 1st Annual Men’s Club 5k walk/run such a fruitful reality! It must be events like this which always put a smile on G-d’s face. I can’t wait until the next one!”
Kol HaKavod and Yasher Koach to Jake Sheff, Mitch Elovitz and the Congregation Neveh Shalom Men’s Club for creating and sharing the details of their successful “Men’s Club 5K” targeted fundraiser with other FJMC Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods. For more information how you can replicate a similar event at your local Florida Region FJMC Men’s Club or Brotherhood, please email Jake Sheff at JJSheff@gmail.com or Mitch Elovitz at elovitzclan@comcast.net.
This message is brought to you in solidarity by of the Florida Region of FJMC International (FJMC) . We serve the needs of affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Learn more about the FJMC Florida Region and our growing network of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods at: www.floridaregionfjmc.org and please visit & LIKE our Facebook Group at: www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
The FJMC is a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, and beyond. Learn how YOUR Jewish Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate with the FJMC at: https://fjmc.org/for-clubs/affiliating-with-the-fjmc/.
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