FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jodi Bodner
JNF Director of Communications
212-879-9305 ext. 221
jbodner@jnf.org
HAS Supports JNF's Campaign for Israel
Donates $18 for Every New Account Opened
August 29, 2006 -- New York, NY -- Looking to tap into the fundraising initiatives of its partner charities as they help Israel in crisis, HAS Advantage, the Visa® Platinum card that supports Israel-related charities and links you to Israel every day, has commissioned its call center to help raise funds for Jewish National Fund's Operation Security Blanket Campaign (OSB).
Starting the week of August 14, hundreds of calls were made soliciting people to sign up for the credit card. As part of this campaign, every new cardmember will generate an $18 donation for JNF's OSB.
“We felt that JNF's initiative on behalf of Israel and her citizens, at this time of crisis, is a project to which we wanted to contribute," said Yair Rosenrauch, HAS Vice President, Non-Profit Relations. “It was also an obvious fit, because the program involves two of our existing partners -- JNF and Friends of Israel Firefighters.”
To date, JNF has raised more than $4.5 million to send children cooped up in bomb shelters to summer camps in central Israel away from the barrage of rocket attacks. Monies are also going to build security bypass roads on the Gaza border as JNF did on the Lebanese border. In addition, JNF foresters and firefighters fought ‘round the clock to douse the fires caused by Katyusha rockets. JNF bought emergency firefighting equipment -- goggles, vests, and helmets -- and tons of fire retardant, and is purchasing much-needed compact fire trucks to supplement and update an aging fleet.
HAS Advantage is an innovative new program that is revolutionizing the way people connect with Israel. With every purchase, needed revenue is generated for programs that affect the very fabric of Israeli society. In addition, cardmembers earn rewards points redeemable for a myriad of great rewards in the U.S. and Israel. Cardmembers select up to five Israel-related charities that profit financially with every purchase.
Every HAS Advantage cardmember has a tree planted in Israel on his behalf by HAS and JNF.
In addition, as part of this campaign, $18 is being donated to support OSB, and a percentage of each future card purchase is donated to JNF.
“As caretaker of the land of Israel on behalf of its owners, Jewish people everywhere, Jewish National Fund is a natural recipient charity for this initiative,” said Russell F. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of JNF. “No matter your interest -- the environment, community development, tourism, afforestation, water management, security, education or research -- JNF is the central address for connecting to the people of Israel. This program will provide American Jewry with another way of making that connection.
“With your dollars spent here, reservoirs in Israel can be filled, rivers cleaned up, trees planted, roads built, parks made inclusive for the handicapped, recreational facilities updated or built, the environment protected, the Negev can become Israel's new frontier for community development and economic growth, and the north can be made home again.
“We are happy to be part of this initiative and hope you'll use the card to see for yourself what JNF does in the land of Israel.”
Said Rosenrauch: “HAS is a seamless and easy way to support Israel without changing your daily lifestyle. This new incentive gives us and the cardmember a rewarding way to contribute.”
