GIFT raises £1.2 million in ‘Be a Giving Hero’ fundraising campaign
More than 6,000 donors and 400 fundraising teams support social action charity that champions the power of giving
Social action charity GIFT raised £1.1 million over 36 hours, and a further £100,000 by the following morning, thanks to the generosity of more than 6,000 donors and 400 fundraising teams.
Their ‘Be a Giving Hero’ campaign, which launched in the lead-up to Rosh Hashanah, saw individuals and groups come together to raise funds for the organisation’s initiatives.
One standout effort came from a group of teenagers who took on the largest zip wire in London, raising an impressive £28,000. Meanwhile, a team of women walking the South Coast raised over £25,000—demonstrating the incredible lengths to which the community went to support the cause.
Michelle Barnett, Director of GIFT said: “Now, more than ever, we need to counterbalance a culture of self-interest by teaching people—young and old—the power of giving. The overwhelming response to this campaign is testament to the generosity and spirit of our community. Together, we are not just raising money; we are cultivating a movement of compassion and kindness.”
Barnett added: “I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all those who created fundraising teams, and to every single person who gave—not just financially, but also of their time and energy—to the Giving Heroes campaign. The community’s support has been remarkable, and without them, GIFT wouldn’t be able to have the impact it does. I would also like to thank those who generously match-funded our campaign—we are incredibly grateful for their commitment.”
The funds raised will directly support GIFT’s critical educational programmes, food distribution, and volunteer initiatives.
From January to July 2024 alone, GIFT mobilized 4,080 volunteers, delivered 935 educational sessions in schools, prepared 9,200 hot meals, and distributed 44,000 food parcels to families in need. The money raised through this campaign will allow GIFT to continue meeting the growing demand for its services and expand its new volunteer hub and food bank in Hendon.
For more information on GIFT and how to stay involved, click here.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
