Written by Brian Barth
In the Maccabiah, one of the most prestigious honors for a delegation member is the flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremonies. At the 21st Maccabiah, Maccabi USA will walk into Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem with an incredible team of athletes, coaches, medical staff, an all-new media team, and more. None of this could be done without the tremendous help of the entire donor base across the United States and beyond. As a leader in Jewish Philanthropy, no one is a better fit to lead the delegation than Stuart Weitzman.
In December 2021, Maccabi USA announced the creation of the newly endowed Stuart Weitzman Scholarship Fund, made possible by a $5M matching gift opportunity from the world-famous shoe designer and three-time table tennis alumnus of the Maccabiah. Weitzman’s gift supports athletes who cannot afford to participate without financial assistance.
“This goes beyond sports,” said Mr. Weitzman. “I cannot imagine a better way to create camaraderie and an understanding and appreciation of Jewish heritage and culture than supporting an organization like Maccabi USA. I am making this gift to ensure that athletes in need can take part in this life-changing experience.”
A true matching opportunity, Maccabi USA must raise $3M by December 2022 to receive the full $5M gift. Maccabi USA raised $850,000 in the first three months to unlock Mr. Weitzman’s first $2M contribution. Maccabi USA has raised over $1.3 million thus far and needs to raise approximately $1.7 million to ensure Mr. Weitzman’s full match.
This is the largest gift in the organization’s 73-year history. “This is the most monumental gift in the history of our organization,” said Maccabi USA President Jeff Bukantz. “After every Maccabiah, we start anew and need to raise $1M to support our athletes. This generous endowment gift will help ensure no qualified Jewish athlete in need gets turned away from this transformative experience.”
On the night of Thursday, July 14, more than 13,000 participants from more than 60 countries will walk before a crowd of tens of thousands of cheering fans and loved ones. There will be music appearances by artists such as Static & Ben El Tavori as well as appearances by political figures including Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and United States President Joe Biden. The most impactful figure in Maccabi USA’s philanthropic history, Stuart Weitzman will lead the largest delegation, consisting of over 1,300 participants.
Brian Barth is a rising senior in high school in New York, NY. Email: brianbarth765@gmail.com.
Twitter: @BrianWBarth
Instagram: @brianw.barth