Our Big Wish List
The Suncoast Hillels have come a long way over the past few years. With the building of our new kosher kitchen, the expansion of our dining hall and program space, and naming it the Morris & Bertha Escoll Center for Jewish Campus Life, our engagement on campus and our programs have grown. We are so happy with how far we have come, but there is still more to be done. The following are major gift options that will allow us to expand and enhance our program.
Sustainable Hillel - $5,000
Over the course of a single school year, the Suncoast Hillels serve well over 6,000 meals and snacks to our students. This produces a huge volume of plastic and paper waste. In an effort to teach our students about the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam and environmental stewardship, Hillel would like to transition to using only recycled and compostable materials. This gift will make it possible for us to purchase these materials as well as a composting system which will be used to reclaim all of our waste. We will use the compost to nurture the ten fruit trees at the USF Hillel building.
Alternative Spring Break Service Trip - $10,000
This will make it possible for a group of students from USF or UT to take part in an alternative spring break service trip in the United States. Students will spend their spring break doing community service and learning about the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam. Working through Hillel International and Repair the World, students will take part in an established curriculum of work and study, and will bring their experiences back to campus to strengthen our local program of community service.
USF Hillel Landscaping & Irrigation System - $15,000
Over the past several years, USF Hillel has taken steps to improve the physical appearance of our building on campus. The initial phase of beautification entailed clearing away scrub trees and underbrush from the rear of the building. The second phase was a renovation and remodeling of the building interior in order to create a more welcoming environment for the students. This was followed by the creation of the beautiful Dorothy Ross Patio to allow for outdoor programming, and the landscaping and irrigation of the front of our building providing a beautiful entrance for our students and guests. We would like to add a new lawn, colorful landscaping and an irrigation system to the rest of our property to complete the warm and welcoming environment we have worked so hard to achieve so far.
USF Hillel Mini Van Shuttle or Electric Golf Cart - $20,000
USF is a large, sprawling campus and the Bull Runner Shuttle Service stops running on Fridays at 5pm. This creates a problem for first-year students who live on the far side of campus, as they are not able to attend Shabbat services or dinner at USF Hillel. In addition, our first concern at Hillel is always for the safety of our students; we do not want students to have to walk long distances across campus after dark. Currently, when Shabbat dinners end at USF Hillel, we arrange individual rides for students with others who are driving in the same general direction. A mini-van shuttle or electric golf cart would allow USF Hillel to have an organized program to ensure the safety of our students and also to increase attendance. As an added benefit, the USF Hillel Shuttle or Golf Cart would be painted with the “USF Hillel” logo and name to promote our organization on campus.
Univesity of Tampa Hillel Program Coordinator - $25,000
University of Tampa is a growing metropolitan college campus in the heart of Downtown Tampa that attracts students regionally, nationally and globally. As the University of Tampa continues to grow, so does the population of Jewish students on its campus. In concert with a lead gift for the position, this gift would make it possible for Hillel to maintain a full-time program coordinator for Hillel at the University of Tampa into the future and provide regular programs for the Jewish students on campus each academic year. This gift will make an incredible difference to the students Hillel serves on the University of Tampa campus.