How it all began...

My Aha! Moment

It was December. I was going to visit my friend who just had a baby and bring her lunch. I didn’t realize that the lunch date would have such a profound effect on me until I left that day and had my Oprah “aha!” moment, an epiphany that has sent me on a mission and life change that I truly didn’t see coming…

I arrived at my friend’s house and was met at the door by my son Eli’s baby nurse who I hadn’t seen in about four years. She spent the lunch talking about a mission to Malawi, Africa she took with her church. I spent the afternoon hearing stories of children aged 7-10 who were at home taking care of their younger siblings because they couldn’t afford the small amount for a school uniform and therefore couldn’t go to school. The shame in their eyes and humility they felt was heartbreaking. Most of these children had sick parents or or no parents at all. They were never going to get out of their extreme poverty-filled lives and without an education, stood no chance to better themselves or their situation.

I left my friend’s house and had my Oprah aha! Moment: I would start a charity with my sons and teach him about children who are less fortunate. The charity would be from kids, for kids teaching them that there are kids out there that can’t afford to go to school, don’t have wall-to-wall toys and need our help. I got in touch with the company that toured my friend around Malawi, Extreme Response, and just like that, a charity and a dream were launched.

I met with Rabbi Ron Herstik from my temple- Congregation Dor Tamid, primarily to see if he had contacts in media I could approach, and instead, walked out with a commitment from the temple to help and about 50 to-do’s to add to my list. In working with Brooke Belodoff from the Social Action Committee, I was able to detail the charity’s mission and create a global cause. Cantor Mike donated five uniforms before our meeting was even over, dedicating them to the b’nai mitzvah class. Jill Burns has been unbelievably helpful, allowing me to speak to the Religious School kids during music time, and even suggesting that the classes donate the tzedakah (charity) money raised on Mitzvah (good deed) Day, February 22^nd to buy school uniforms.

That day and in four months, the temple donated money-- enough to send over 75 children to school. Since January 2009, we have enabled over 100 children the ability to get a school education.

Now it's your turn, please join us in our fight to educate the children of Malawi, Africa. Just imagine... we could revolutionize a country for the cost of a large pizza!

For more information, please contact: Ali Rubenstein at: ali@rubenstein.net