I came because of my deep interest and commitment to Jewish survival,” Mrs. Harriet Sloane, of Westfield, N.J, said today, Mrs. Sloane, a national vice-chairman of the Women’s Division of the United Jewish Appeal, was one of 80 leaders of the national UJA who came from the Eastern states to help the Greater New York UJA-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies Joint Total Mobilization Campaign.
The 80 UJA leaders from out-of-town are joined by about 350 New Yorkers in the two-and-a-half-day phone campaign at the New York Sheraton Hotel which began today. This followed a “Survival Sunday” yesterday which included door-to-door solicitations throughout New York City, Westchester County and Long Island and a five-and-a-half hour telethon last night.
The national UJA leaders are participating in the telephone solicitation for the entire period which ends at noon Wednesday while the New Yorkers come in 100 at a time. The volunteers have a busy day starting at 8:15 a.m. with a breakfast briefing and then calls from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. with time out for lunch and more briefings. The out-of-town leaders arrived yesterday and after a buffet dinner were taken to the telethon.
9000 PERSON BEING SOLICITED
The scene today was one of bustling activity. The volunteers, men and women, sat at rows of tables which covered the hotel’s basement ballroom. They were constantly on the telephone and or scribbling down figures and other data. A large board at the front showed the number of pledges already made and their total which reached nearly $600,000 during the first two hours.
William M, Landau, who is co-host for the event, said 9000 persons are being solicited for pledges of $1000 or more. Landau, who is also president of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, said that many prospects may be convinced to donate by the idea that someone thought the need is important enough to come from far away to solicit him or her personally.
This view was echoed by Marc Lincoln Marks of Sharon, Pa,, a former member of the UJA National Cabinet. Marks said in person-to-person talks, people appreciate that someone has taken the time and effort to travel some distance to seek their support. Mrs., Sloane noted that in a city with the Jewish population that New York has, every Jew must be reached by the UJA drive “to support Jewish survival with dollars,”
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