January 25th, 2013
Eric Greenberg Goldy, a 17-year-old New York City High School student is the founder of the Strike Out Pediatric Cancer PCF Bowlathon, a charity event he started five years ago when he was required to choose a charity project for his Bar Mitzvah.
We wanted our Mitzvah Market readers to know about Eric and this special charity that is still going strong five years later.
Pictured L-R: Dad Rob, Eric, Sister Taylor and Mom Roberta
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular Mitzvah Project?
EGG: I got involved with Pediatric Cancer Foundation through a school community service project called, “The Box Project,” where students brought in different arts and crafts items to put inside of shoe boxes that we decorated to give to kids with cancer. A few years later, my sister got a group of friends together to walk in the Annual Pediatric Cancer Walkathon for her Bat Mitzvah. When it was time for me to choose a Mitzvah Project, I knew that I wanted it to benefit Pediatric Cancer Foundation but I also wanted it to be athletic and fun so I founded the Bowl-a-thon.
The Greenberg-Goldy Family in 2008
MM: In your own words, what does it mean to you to do a Mitzvah Project for your Bar Mitzvah?
EGG: Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s mission is really to help doctors help kids who have cancer and what that means to me– is that by founding and organizing the Annual Strike Out Pediatric Cancer™ PCF Bowl-a-thon, we’re helping as many kids as we can live a healthy and happy life. That, to me, embodies the Mitzvah tradition of tzedakah (charity) or tikkun olam (healing the world).
MM: Please give us details of your Mitzvah Project?
EGG: The 6th Annual Strike Out Pediatric Cancer™ PCF Bowl-A-Thon will take place on Sunday, December 15, 2013 from 11:00- 1:00 pm at Lucky Strike Lanes in New York City to benefit Pediatric Cancer Foundation. They receive no funding from the government or pharmaceutical companies and since 1970, nearly 90% of every dollar raised supports their mission to eradicate cancer. So what that means in terms of the Bowl-a-thon is that a huge percentage of each dollar raised directly helps kids who have cancer.
We’ve booked out the entire bowling alley in hopes of filling it with bowlers of all ages and have set aside lanes for younger bowlers who may need bumpers and slides. The $50 registration fee includes a donation to PCF, two hours of bowling, shoe rental, refreshments, and entertainment. As always, we will be raffling off fun and amazing prizes for both kids and adults. Parents looking for a fun birthday party activity, businesses looking for a meaningful Team Building event, and students looking for a fun community service project should all consider the 6th Annual Strike Out Pediatric Cancer PCF Bowl-a-thon.
MM: What are you doing to spread the word about your Mitzvah Project?
EGG: Besides inviting everyone that I know (and everyone that THEY know), each year I send out hundreds of corporate sponsor letters in hopes that they will support the Annual Strike Out Pediatric Cancer PCF Bowl-a-thon. This year our sponsors include: Appleseeds, Baked by Melissa, Alicart Restaurant Group, Fireman’s Hospitality Group, Asphalt Green, Chelsea Piers, ChariTotes™, Clean Plates, Lucky Strike, New Victory Theater, Protocol, Balloon Bouquets, Cozy’s Cuts for Kids and The Summer Lady. What we offer them in exchange for sponsorship is recognition! We put their logo on the sponsorship page of our Website and in our Press Kits. We also thank them. A lot!
We have been focusing more on social media than ever before. For example, in terms of Facebook every Monday we post a new sponsor logo, on Wednesday we post a picture from past Bowl-a-thons, and on Fridays we post Bowling tips. Besides sponsorships, what we really need are bowlers, so I have been using Facebook and Twitter to get people interested and excited. We also have a Website where people can register, donate, and get more information about PCF: www.pcfbowlathon.org
A letter Eric wrote for the 5th Annual Strike Out for Bowling
MM: For how long can people donate to this charity?
EGG: Yearlong! Our next event is Sunday, December 15, 2013.
MM: Anything else you want us to know about this Mitzvah Project?
EGG: The other important activity that takes place at the Bowl-a-thon is the Design-A-Bag workshop courtesy of ChariTotes. ChariTotes began as an arts and crafts activity that my sister, Taylor thought of where bowlers personally decorate blank canvas bags, make get well cards and then stuff the bags with a notebook, crayons and stickers to give to kids in local pediatric cancer units.
After doing this project at the Bowl-a-thon a few years ago, Taylor thought it would be great to create an actual product that people could buy where 10% of the proceeds are donated to PCF. Taylor and ChariTotes donate over 200 Design-A-Bag kits to the Bowl-a-thon each year so participants could create a bag for a sick child. In past years, student volunteers from the High School of Art and Design and Stuyvesant High School have been on site to help with this project in conjunction with the 92nd Street Y’s TEENSgiving Program!
Great job Eric! One person can make a difference. Thank you for sharing your Mitzvah Project with our readers and Mazel Tov on such a great project!
January 21st, 2013
Celebrity Party Planner Mindy Weiss planned a party at the The BookBindery in Culver City, California with a Harajuku theme.
So how does this become a Bat Mitzvah theme? Check it out.
Pictures for this Bat Mitzvah were taken by Jay Goldman Photography.
The fabulous brightly colored lanterns filled the ceiling and cherry blossoms filled the adult tables thanks to Marks Garden.
Plenty of pillows creates a cozy feel
Fun curved bar area
Lots of great details: beautiful floral displays, hanging from the ceiling are pink and orange lanterns and colorful butterflies are hanging over the large bar
L-R: Dancers in character, guests enjoying
Revelry did the furniture groupings
Famous In-n-Out Burgers for all guests!
A delicious and colorful candy bar!
We want to thank Mindy Weiss for sharing this celebration with our readers.
January 6th, 2013
This Willy Wonka themed Bat Mitzvah was done by the team from Rafanelli Events. It was held at the Four Seasons Boston and decorated deliciously!
The decor and attention to detail is amazing and as Willy Wonka said, “There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination.”
There is some wonderful use of imagination here as celebrity event planner Bryan Rafanelli transformed this ballroom.
Photography by Michael Blanchard.
The bar was embellished with candy dots
The candy factory
The chocolate fountain
A craft favor station with a beautiful color palette
Actual gumballs filled the long kids tables!
The dance floor was wrapped in candy images
Here is a closer look, makes you want to eat right off the floor!
Fizzy drinks were served to wash down all that candy and chocolate
The photo backdrop
Great Wonka photo props by Prop Mama
Great use of color for this candy bar
The 4 tiered cake topped with bubbles, the golden ticket and Wonka’s hat
A wonderful way to end the night with each guest receiving a tzedakah box with a note “Be the giver of dreams”
We thank Rafanelli Events for sharing this Bat Mitzvah celebration with our readers.
January 3rd, 2013
This past August, the Klein family from New Jersey held their daughter Sydney’s Bat Mitzvah in Israel.
Friends and family joined them in Israel for a week of touring and parties. Each day they toured in different areas, and at night they had dinner in a special location.
This was orchestrated beautifully with many unique touches and we know you will enjoy reading about this special celebration.
We have written about this creative family in the past. You might remember that their last celebration was a Mitzvah Hoedown!
Emunah of America which specializes in family celebrations in Israel planned the week-long trip for the Klein’s family and friends.
Photography by Studio A Images.
Penny Rabinowitz of Save the Day Events designed and created all décor for the week long event and surrounding parties in addition to the invitations and giveaways.
Check it all out below:
It all started with this custom-made “save the date” which had all trip information included on a Website
Each guest received this beautiful embellished suitcase containing the invitation
Travel goodies were also included in the mini suitcases
Everyone received these custom luggage tags
Once in Israel, there was a private service with friends and family to mark the end of the Shabbat
Everyone sat together for a Shabbat dinner at this beautiful, long table
This day’s agenda featured an archeological dig at Tel Maresha
In the Northern Golan Heights, there was a stop at Moshav Shaar Yashuv for off-road jeeping
A day on the rapids on Lake Kinert
Then a beautiful beach side BBQ
There was even a flash mob surprise dance for the Bat Mitzvah girl!
For the main celebration, the Klein family and their guests rode to the party on camels and then arrived at the tent which overlooked the desert
Dinner was in a bedouin style tent
Some of the fun that evening included a fire entertainer
A beautiful custom made flag banner in the boho Moroccan look which all the décor was based around
Beautiful bohemian lines adorned the tables
A nice group shot
This was a really special celebration and we want to thank the Klein Family for sharing Sydney’s Bat Mitzvah with our readers.
December 19th, 2012
Here’s a great way to incorporate environmentally friendly elements into your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration.
Circles of Life Seed Paper Kippot are made from 100% recycled, 100% recyclable, 100% biodegradable seed paper and all products are made right here in the United States.
When exposed to a plant friendly environment like soil and water, a beautiful flower garden will grow from your Kippot!
Kippot come in a variety of colors or you can custom make a design
After your service, guests plant and add water
Make your garden grow!
Here’s a custom design that was done for a B’nai Mitzvah
What a great idea to provide future flower gardens for your family and friends!
To learn more, visit their Website.
December 7th, 2012
Greeting your guests with creative seating cards is a great way to start your child’s Mitzvah celebration!
Timeless Paper from Etsy offers many and stylish three dimensional ways to use place cards with paper that will sit on the edge of a glass!
Check out the photos below – there are many themes to choose from and they can even create a custom shape for you.
The process begins with a hand drawn sketch. The paper designs are then engineered to the highest level of quality. Dots are hand painted to add decorative detail. Each design is then digitized to allow customization of the dot color and personalization.
A snowflake for a winter theme!
We love the airplane…
A butterfly
Check out all the rest by clicking here.
December 5th, 2012
WM Events out of Atlanta and Denver planned a unique Bar Mitzvah celebration for a Denver Family.
After the service there was a casual family BBQ in the backyard then it was onto a fun street party at Erico Motor Sports.
This event was non-stop excitement, with classics like four square, double dutch jump ropes, hula hoops, bubbles, basketball, and sidewalk chalk to get the kids going.
All photography was done by David Wegwart.
Hula Hoops provided lots of fun for guests old and young
Double dutch jump ropes
Jennifer Mosquera from the Art Salon Denver created a unique piece of street art of the family dog
Delicious tacos provided by the Comida Food Truck
Occasions Denver had all their waiters dressed as car mechanics all branded with the Bar Mitzvah boy’s name
The Bar Mitzvah boy makes his entrance
An overview of the room with many different food and entertainment stations
The florist, Newberry Brothers went the non-floral route with centerpieces sculpted from spare motorcycle parts
Very cool motorcycle decor
Photo booth with a real motor bike and fun racing background
The giant sign-in board with his logo and spinning letters that spelled out his name
We thank WM Events for sharing such a unique Bar Mitzvah celebration with our readers.
November 20th, 2012
Our readers often ask us for ideas in how to pick colors for B’nai Mitzvahs – especially when the celebration is for a boy and a girl. Well we found two event planners in So Cal who put together a hip and modern B’nai Mitzvah while incorporating the personalities of both kids.
Brad Austin Imaginative Florists is one of L.A.’s leading floral designers and event planner Evie Steinberg of Be Out Guests worked together at Temple Judea in Tarzana, Ca.
Photography by Susan Bordelon Photography.
These yarmulkes are cool and set the tone for the party colors
Very modern place card set up
How cute and unique is this?
The table linens were alternating turquoise and orange
Brad Austin created two different styles of centerpieces, and all vases of tropical Heliconias and orchids, filled with tinted water, soared above the table
Lime green Kermit mums formed a floral collar to support the kids’ logo
The kids’ logo was embossed on the custom designed white dance floor to look just like the invitation
Picture of the two guests of honor and their “sweet life” candy bags
We want to thank Brad Austin for sharing this great B’nai Mitzvah with our readers.
November 17th, 2012
We love it when the theme of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah party is based on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child’s name!
This is exactly what one family from Michigan did for their daughter Olivia who really “LIV’d” it up at her Bat Mitzvah celebration.
Abby Rose Photography is sharing this creative Bat Mitzvah that took place at the Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan. It was completely transformed by Event Planner Dee Dee Hoffman and Fleurtech Designs.
Abby Rose shot the Bat Mitzvah girl in-studio and recreated the iPod art in post-production. This imagery was then used in many aspects throughout the party
Bat Mitzvah girl Liv posing in front of her place cards
Brightly colored place cards were a variety of neon colors
Butterflies hung from the ceiling and added to the decor
Star Trax Entertainment provided the music entertainment
Livvy performed a dance routine with MCs Josh and Dennis for her big entrance
The room at the Knollwood Country Club is ready for guests
Rectangular tables, with round place mats
A very hip lounge with a “S” shaped couch, up lighting and draping
Stilt walkers and fire eaters were part of the entertainment
Each young guest went home with a customized “Liv it up” sweatshirt featuring Abby Rose’s iPod artwork
We thank Abby Rose Photography for sharing this great Bat Mitzvah with our readers.
November 11th, 2012
Amy Atlas, whose designs are to the left, may have started the dazzling dessert trend that many caterers now offer.
Below are a variety of desserts that will make you hungry! Whether it’s a theme or color you go after, we hope you are inspired.
Check out the below:
Brown and white Bar Mitzvah dessert theme from Just a Bite Desserts
A chipwich bar with over-sized cookies and amazing flavored ice creams from Encore Catering
A popcorn bar from Jackie Sorkin’s The Hollywood Candy Girls
Great Performances set up a dessert station featuring hanging pastry bags filled with flavored
custards that guests could pipe into pastry shells
A rock and roll themed Mitzvah from Desiree Chocolates
Mini apple pies perfect for any season from Tip Of The Tongue Catering
Sports themed cake balls from AngiesCake.com
A light up candy bar display from CW Distinctive Designs
From Party Favorites a skateboard filled with yummy cupcakes
Did you have a dazzling dessert display at your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah? Email us at info@mitzvahmarket.com and let us share it with our readers.
