BEFORE LEADING TRIBEFEST attendees in a charitable book-giving and reading effort in Las Vegas on March 26, PJ Library program director
Marcie Greenfield Simons delivered a presentation to her young followers.
Beginning her TribeFest 2012 speech with a joke, Greenfield Simons endeared herself to her audience of young adults before impressing upon them the importance of PJ Library and early education. She started by thanking conference attendees with “a special note of appreciation” for “allowing” her into the conference. She quipped, “I very clearly don’t qualify according to the TribeFest age cutoff.”
Indeed, TribeFest is an annual event developed by the Jewish Federations of North America and its National Young Leadership aimed specifically at Jewish men and women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. The event is held as a means of providing young Jewish leaders with “an entertaining, interactive, and educational celebration.”
Drawing over 1,500 Jewish young adults, the setting provides meaningful opportunities for leaders in Jewish life to engage with up-and-coming stars of tomorrow and introduce them to local, national, and international organizations and meaningful service projects.
INTRODUCING PJ LIBRARY
In her speech before the young TribeFest crowd, Greenfield Simons asked the audience a series of key questions. “Who here cares about literacy?” she asked. “About early childhood education? About Jewish continuity? About engaging families with children in Jewish life?”
Amongst a sea out outstretched hands, Greenfield Simons proudly announced, “I am pleased to tell you a little bit about an award-winning program that touches upon all of these critically important issues with which the Jewish community is concerned today!”
CONNECTING TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY
After providing the backstory of Harold Grinspoon and illustrating the impact of the PJ Library program, along with the basics of how the program works, Greenfield Simons announced the PJ Library program’s participation in their TribeFest service project for the day.
“We are deeply honored to partner with you in today’s service project,” she announced, “delivering and reading books to the children of Las Vegas.”
Greenfield Simons went on to proclaim that intervention in the form of free books can go a long way toward helping the recipients as well as society at large. “We at PJ Library are thrilled to have provided gifts for the school children in underserved areas of Las Vegas this morning.”
The books donated by PJ Library come from the program's lineup and were chosen “because of their universal values and relevant themes.” Greenfield Simons joined attendees in delivering the books and reading them to children.
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March 26, 2012