Jewish communities are constantly growing, changing, and addressing new challenges, and the greater Ann Arbor community is no exception. Addressing these changes is one of the main goals of the Jewish Federation’s Annual Community Campaign.
“Whether it is sponsoring the Jewish Community Study, so we can plan for the future, supporting our community’s safety net, Jewish Family Service, in times of crisis, or combating antisemitism in our community, the Jewish Federation is working for us,” says Larry Adler, volunteer Chair of the 2025 Annual Community Campaign.
The 2025 Annual Community Campaign has already raised over $1.3 million from 550 generous members of the local community, significantly outstripping the 2024 Campaign at the same time a year ago, and well on the way to this year’s goal: raise and distribute $1.6 million to Jewish organizations and initiatives making a difference locally and around the world.
The Annual Community Campaign is how the Jewish community cares for one another. It ensures organizations in greater Ann Arbor like the JCC, JFS, and Hillels at UM and EMU can provide the programs and services needed to build and sustain an engaged and connected Jewish community. It also enables Federation to lead the community in addressing vital communal needs, including: security, local antisemitism, supporting Israel and other global communities in crisis, community relations through representing Jewish communal issues and concerns in the broader community, and planning for the future.
Federation’s 2025 Annual Community Campaign Co-Chairs Larry Adler and Sierra Imwalle
The success of this year’s campaign, which began September 2024 and will end in May of this year, is due in large part to exceptional volunteer leadership from Adler and Campaign Co-Chair Sierra Imwalle. These two community members tirelessly volunteer their time to lead a team of 40 Campaign Volunteers, reach out personally to potential donors, and help shape messaging around the funding needs of the community.
Adler, who recruited Imwalle as co-chair for the 2025 campaign, says he is “grateful to have the opportunity to chair the Campaign and work alongside Sierra and the incredible Federation staff.”
Adler and Imwalle were also instrumental in the success of this past November’s Main Event, which featured NYT columnist David Brooks and over $230,000. The event was attended by 450 people—the largest showing at a Main Event in over a decade.
While the Campaign has seen success so far, Adler knows there’s more to do. “We are 80% to our target for the 2025 Annual Campaign,” he says, “and I am confident that the generous Jewish community of Washtenaw County will once again step up and that we will reach and exceed our goal.”
To learn more about the impact of the Jewish Federation’s Annual Community Campaign, visit JewishAnnArbor.org/donate or contact Rachel Wall at rachel@jewishannarbor.org.