For Immediate Release: May 29, 2004
Bet Havarim’s June Shabbat service will be conducted on Friday evening, June 18th at St. David’s Episcopal Church located on Jamar Drive in Dewitt. Services begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by an Oneg Shabbat.
Guest speaker for the June 18th service will be Mrs. Ginny Donohue, founder of ON POINT FOR COLLEGE and 2004 Post Standard Achievement Award Recipient.
"We are indeed fortunate and excited at the prospect of welcoming Ginny Donohue to Bet Havarim," said Shabbat Committee Chairman, Mel Shindler, "Ginny started On Point For College in 1999 as a non-profit organization solely dedicated to helping urban teenagers overcome financial and academic obstacles in order to pursue a college education."
Mrs. Donohue’s career began with her Philosophy/Sociology Degree from Lemoyne College, followed by a M.S. in Urban Education from Syracuse University and ultimately receiving an Accounting Degree from SUNY Oswego. Beginning as a teacher and ultimately turning to the business arena Mrs. Donohue ended a thirteen year career as a corporate executive when she founded On Point For College.
Recipient of numerous awards including Syracuse Rotary’s Annual "Service Above Self Award" and Syracuse University’s Martin Luther King "Unsung Hero" Award, Mrs. Donohue in the five years of On Point For College’s existence has enabled 450 financially disadvantaged young urban Syracusans to go on to 80 colleges and universities. There are currently 920 students enrolled in On Point For College.
"Because On Point For College relies on private donations our Shabbat Committee is asking everyone who attends to bring a donation of articles needed by the young students as they prepare for the fall semester such as toiletries, toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoos and conditioners, bar soap, alarm clocks, calculators, pens, pencils, paper & notebooks, organizers, backpacks, twin sheets, blankets, pillowcases and pillows," said Shindler. "The future of our community rests on the young people of today and Bet Havarim is indeed proud to be of assistance in helping this wonderful organization achieve its goals."
"Our May Shabbat service celebrated Shavuot and heard from guest speaker Mitch Jaffe, executive director of Syracuse Jewish Family Service," said Marty Morganstein, Bet Havarim founding member and participant in Bet Havarim’s Shabbat services. Also participating in the May Shabbat service were Anita Burrows, Stan Hack, Wendy and Don Kates, Martin Kronman, Marty Morganstein, Ilse Salomon, and Mel Shindler.
"We will be announcing a number of interesting Shabbat Guest Speakers as well as several programs of interest to the community," said Shindler, "we hope the community will attend our June 18th Shabbat service as Bet Havarim welcomes and honors Ginny Donohue."
The public is cordially invited to the service. For additional information about Bet Havarim, our schedule of services, D'vrei Torah, etc., visit Bet Havarim's website at www.BetHavarimSyr.org, email Info@BetHavarimSyr.org, or phone Marty Morganstein at 637-5390 or Mel Shindler at 478-6856.
St. David's Church is located on Jamar Drive in Dewitt, just off Maple Drive. At the intersection of Maple Drive and East Genesee St., just across from Wegmans, proceed south on Maple Drive and take the third right turn on Jamar Drive. St. David's is handicapped accessible.