More than 4,000 donors help Hasmonean raise £1.6m

More than 4,000 donors raised £1.6 million for Hasmonean boys’ and girls’ schools this week in an effort to secure funding for the London institution’s at-risk Jewish Studies programmes.

The crowdfunding exceeded the schools’ appeal target of £1.2 million after news broke late last month that Hasmonean had seen a significant drop in donations, as recession fears hit charity coffers across the sector.

Campaign chair Jodi Benaim said: “This was not just a case of the few helping the many. There was a real sense of collective responsibility in which the fundraising was democratised. Everyone was able to play a part.”

Around 270 fundraising teams were arranged, comprising parents, staff, students, alumni, governors, trustees and supporters, as school leaders said the money was needed “to secure Hasmonean’s future”.

Ben Shooter, who chaired the fundraising committee, said: “This campaign reached right into the core of the Hasmonean community, past and present… The sense of responsibility was simply overwhelming.”